design by Maeve McAuley
Conversation Starters for Awkward Group Dinners Breaking the ice, in the least awkward way possible By Zoe Chao Have you been stuck with the kids of your parents’ friends that you haven’t seen since third grade? Been the plus one of a plus one? New to the adults’ table? Talk about the weather ad extremum? We’ve all been there. Sometimes it’s the unfamiliarity of these strangers’ speaking cadence or being unsure of what to say, but awkward placements at group dining endeavors are, I’m sad to disappoint, inevitable. When the conversation’s dry, it might just be time to pull out this cheat sheet of every conversation starter ever.
Ground Rules •
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One conversation at a time! It sucks when you’re the one person sitting in the middle of two conversations, unable to bridge or enter either. Practice active listening. Be present. Put the phone away. Be respectful. This is, hopefully, self-explanatory. Mind your manners…Say “excuse me” if you burp and never, ever talk with food in your mouth.
Classics
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Rose, Bud, Thorn Two Truths and a Lie What did you want to be when you grew up? What is your “Death Row” meal? Explain your phone wallpaper
Wildfire
Pitch me the person next to you If you had to be named after a kitchen appliance, what would it be? If you had a $500 gift card to any store/brand and 10 minutes to shop, where would you go? Truth or dare (seated and respectful) Why Northwestern?
Rapidfire
Give me a hot take What’s your favorite ____? What’s a conspiracy theory you believe? What’s the story behind your name? How do you like your eggs? What’s the best form of carbohydrate? If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
For the Audacious
What is your love language? What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and from who? What is a question you wish people would ask you more often? What do you think your younger self would be most surprised to learn about you today?
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2026