# This or That Icebreaker Questions to Get to Know Someone Source: https://thisorthatquestion.com/this-or-that-icebreaker-questions Updated: 2026-11-11 Open a meeting, class or first hangout with 5 to 10 pairs, then ask one follow-up about an answer. ## Quick facts - A this or that icebreaker works because nobody can give a wrong answer, and each answer takes about two seconds. - Five to ten pairs fill a 5-minute meeting opener. Twenty pairs fill a 15-minute class warm-up. - The follow-up question does most of the work. Ask "What's your go-to?" or "Why?" after every few pairs. - Low-stakes topics such as food, weekends and habits suit a group that has just met. Save values questions for the second or third meeting. - In a group of 20 or more, have people move to one side of the room. Everyone answers at once and sees who matches them. ## Get to know you this or that questions These get to know you this or that questions cover daily habits. They tell you how someone spends a normal day. 1. Alarm on the first ring or Snooze three times? 2. Make the bed or Leave it messy? 3. Cook at home or Try a new restaurant? 4. Plants or Pets? 5. Shopping list or Wander the aisles? 6. Sunday reset or Sunday on the couch? 7. Big breakfast or Coffee only? 8. Headphones in or Chat with strangers? 9. One big vacation or Several weekend trips? 10. Rewatch a favorite show or Start a new one? 11. Write it down or Remember it? 12. Walk or Drive? ## This or that questions to get to know someone new Use these this or that questions to get to know someone one on one: a new friend, a roommate or a first date. Each pair hints at a bigger story. 1. Grew up in a small town or Grew up in a city? 2. Oldest sibling energy or Youngest sibling energy? 3. Hometown favorite or New place you discovered? 4. Call your family weekly or Text your family daily? 5. Dinner with five people or Dinner with fifty? 6. Keep souvenirs or Keep only photos? 7. Learn from a video or Learn from a class? 8. Give advice or Get advice? 9. Remember birthdays or Remember faces? 10. Pack light or Pack for every possibility? 11. Same haircut for years or New look every season? 12. Talk on a walk or Talk over coffee? ## Icebreaker this or that questions for work meetings These ice breaker this or that questions fit a team meeting, a new-hire lunch or a virtual call. They stay away from personal life and salary. 1. Early meetings or Late meetings? 2. Inbox zero or 10,000 unread? 3. Standing desk or Comfy chair? 4. Video on or Video off? 5. Call or Email? 6. Detailed agenda or Open conversation? 7. Morning focus time or Afternoon focus time? 8. Present to the group or Write the report? 9. Team lunch or Lunch at your desk? 10. Sticky notes or To-do app? 11. Big launch or Steady improvements? 12. Shared calendar or Ask before booking? ## This or that ice breaker questions for students Teachers use these on the first day of school or after a break. Students answer by moving to one side of the room. 1. Sit in the front or Sit by the window? 2. Homework right after school or Homework after dinner? 3. Spelling bee or Science fair? 4. Library day or Gym day? 5. Draw it or Write it? 6. Chapter books or Graphic novels? 7. Bus ride or Car ride? 8. Class pet turtle or Class pet bunny? 9. Indoor recess or Outdoor recess? 10. Lunch from home or School lunch? 11. Math puzzle or Word puzzle? 12. Team captain or Team cheerleader? ## This or that conversation starters with follow-ups These this or that conversation starters lead into a story. After the answer, ask the follow-up in the tips below. 1. Best trip so far or Dream trip not taken? 2. First concert or Most recent concert? 3. Childhood hobby or Hobby you picked up as an adult? 4. Best meal you cooked or Best meal you ordered? 5. Hidden talent or Talent you wish you had? 6. Favorite book from school or Book you read last month? 7. Old friend you still see or New friend from this year? 8. Skill from a parent or Skill you taught yourself? - Ask "Tell me about it" after a trip or concert answer. - Ask "How did you get into it?" after a hobby or skill answer. - Ask "Would you do it again?" after any first-time story. - Share your own answer too. People open up faster when you go first. ## Quick-fire ice breaker this or that pairs Read these fast, one every five seconds, to wake up a room after lunch or a long talk. 1. Brunch or Midnight snack? 2. Hiking trail or Bike path? 3. Farmers market or Flea market? 4. Hot sauce collector or Mild salsa fan? 5. Windows down or AC on? 6. Early to the airport or Just in time? 7. Paper planner or Phone calendar? 8. Sunrise walk or Late-night drive? 9. Photo dump or One perfect photo? 10. Hot chocolate or Chai? 11. Camping trip or Spa day? 12. Karaoke night or Game night? 13. Flower shop or Bookshop? 14. Street food or Sit-down dinner? 15. Bake from scratch or Box mix? 16. Jigsaw puzzle or Card game? ## How to run a this or that icebreaker game Pick one of these five formats for this or that ice breakers. Each one fits a different group size and room. 1. Two sides of the room: name a wall for each option. People walk to their pick and talk to one person on their side. Works for 10 to 60 people. 2. Hands up: say the pair, then ask for hands for the first option and the second option. Works in a lecture hall or a seated meeting. 3. Video call: share the pair on screen. People type 1 or 2 in the chat at the same time. 4. Partner swap: pairs of people answer five questions together, then switch partners. Works for networking and the first day of class. 5. Find your match: everyone answers 10 pairs on paper, then finds the person with the most matching answers. ## Tips for this or that icebreakers - Start with food and weekend pairs. Nobody feels exposed answering "Alarm on the first ring or Snooze three times?" - Keep this or that questions icebreaker rounds under 10 minutes. Icebreakers that run long eat into the meeting. - Skip questions about money, religion, family plans and health with people you just met. - Let anyone answer "pass" once per round. Quiet people join in more when they know they can. - Use the random picker at /this-or-that-generator if you need pairs on the spot. - Note who matched whom. In a new team, "You both snooze three times" gives people a reason to talk later. ## Frequently asked questions ### What are this or that icebreaker questions? This or that icebreaker questions are quick two-option choices that help new people learn about each other. One example is "Early meetings or Late meetings?" Each answer takes two seconds and carries no risk, so quiet people join in. Use 5 to 10 pairs to open a meeting, a class or a first hangout, then ask one follow-up question. ### What are good this or that icebreaker questions? Good this or that icebreaker questions are low-stakes and quick. Try Early meetings or Late meetings, Make the bed or Leave it messy, and Learn from a video or Learn from a class. Choose pairs about habits and preferences, not money, health or beliefs. ### How do you use a this or that ice breaker in a meeting? Read three to five pairs at the start of the meeting and ask people to answer in the chat or by a show of hands. Pick one answer to ask about. The whole this or that ice breaker takes about five minutes. ### What are the best this or that get to know you questions for a first date? The best pairs for a first date reveal stories. Try Grew up in a small town or Grew up in a city, and Best trip so far or Dream trip not taken. Take turns asking, and follow each answer with one question about why. ### How many ice breaker questions this or that style should I prepare? Prepare 10 to 15 ice breaker questions this or that style for a 10-minute session. That covers a few skips and lets you drop pairs that fall flat. For a 30-minute workshop opener, prepare about 30. ### Are this or that getting to know you questions good for kids? Yes. Kids answer this or that getting to know you questions faster than open questions, because they only choose between two things. Use the student pairs here and have kids move to one side of the room. ### What is the difference between icebreaker questions this or that style and open questions? Icebreaker questions this or that style give two answers to choose from, so they take seconds and feel safe. Open questions such as "Tell us about yourself" put people on the spot. Start with this or that, then ask an open follow-up. ### Can I use this or that to get to know someone over text? Yes. Send one pair at a time and answer it yourself too. This or that getting to know someone over text works best with the conversation starters here, because each answer gives you something to ask about next. ### What are icebreaker this or that ideas for a virtual team? For a virtual team, use the work meeting pairs, such as Video on or Video off and Inbox zero or 10,000 unread. Post the pair on screen and have everyone type 1 or 2 in the chat at once. Read out a few answers by name.