If you get tongue-tied at parties and in other social situations, try these tips to make chit-chat easier:
Start with a compliment - it gets the all rolling on a pleasant note.
Ask the other person about her hobbies rather than discussing your own interests.
Enquire how the other person knows the host.
Ask the other person's opinion of something. Try not to be too controversial - sport, films, books and celebrities are generally safe bets.
Cultivate an inoffensive exit line, such as 'I'm just going to put down my drink. Perhaps we'll meet up later on', or 'I must see how my children are getting on upstairs'.
