be on thin ice Definition

ice
noun

1. Water in its solid frozen state.

Thesaurus: frost, hoar, rime, glacier.
2. A sheet of frozen water, eg on the surface of a road.
3. ice creamor water ice or a portion of this.
4. slang
Diamonds.
5. slang
An illicit drug, a highly synthesized form of methamphetamine.
6. Coldness of manner; reserve.

Thesaurus: formality, reserve, distance, stiffness.

verb iced, icing

1. To cover (a cake) with icing.
intr
2. To become covered with ice; to freeze.

Form: ice over (usually)
Form: ice up
3. To cool or mix something with ice.

Idiom: be on thin ice

See under skate¹.

Idiom: break the ice

See under break.
Thesaurus: initiate, commence, make a start, get the ball rolling.

Idiom: on ice

In readiness or reserve, either to be used later or awaiting further attention.
Thesaurus: in reserve, held, in abeyance.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon is.