Would-you-rather and this-or-that questions are binary-choice icebreakers: you give people two options and they simply pick one. Would-you-rather frames two full scenarios ("would you rather work from home forever or in an office forever?"); this-or-that just names two things ("coffee or tea?"). Both are quick and easy because there is nothing to prepare and no wrong answer, so even a large or shy group warms up in seconds. Pick any question below — work-safe, funny, or deep — to open a meeting, fill a few minutes, or get a remote team talking.

Classic this-or-that

Light, everyday choices that work with any group and need no setup.

  • Coffee or tea?
  • Sweet or savoury?
  • Early bird or night owl?
  • Beach or mountains?
  • Cats or dogs?
  • Books or films?
  • Summer or winter?
  • Call or text?
  • Window seat or aisle seat?
  • Planner or go-with-the-flow?

This-or-that for work

Quick choices about how people like to work — a friendly way to learn a team's habits.

  • Morning meetings or afternoon meetings?
  • Email or chat?
  • Video on or video off?
  • Headphones or quiet office?
  • Big-picture work or detailed work?
  • Long deadline or short sprint?
  • Take notes or remember it?
  • Standing desk or sitting desk?
  • Work in silence or with music?
  • Plan the whole week or take it one day at a time?

Would you rather (work-safe)

Two-option dilemmas that stay light and friendly — answer in a sentence.

  • Would you rather work from home forever or in an office forever?
  • Would you rather have a four-day week or finish every day at 3pm?
  • Would you rather start work very early or finish very late?
  • Would you rather lead a project or support one?
  • Would you rather have no meetings or no email?
  • Would you rather be great at presenting or great at writing?
  • Would you rather learn a new skill or get better at one you already have?
  • Would you rather work on one big task or many small ones?

Food & travel this-or-that

Easy crowd-pleasers about food, drink, and getting away — light and inclusive.

  • Pizza or pasta?
  • Breakfast or dinner?
  • Cooking at home or eating out?
  • Spicy food or mild food?
  • City break or quiet countryside?
  • Road trip or flight?
  • Pack light or pack everything?
  • Same holiday spot every year or somewhere new each time?
  • Sightseeing or relaxing?
  • Street food or a sit-down meal?

Tech & workplace would-you-rather

Playful tech and workplace trade-offs to get a team chatting about how they work.

  • Would you rather have a faster computer or a bigger screen?
  • Would you rather lose your phone for a week or your laptop for a week?
  • Would you rather automate the boring tasks or do them yourself and switch off?
  • Would you rather have unlimited coffee or unlimited snacks at work?
  • Would you rather have a window desk or your own quiet room?
  • Would you rather master one tool completely or know a little about many?
  • Would you rather get one long break or several short ones during the day?
  • Would you rather always be five minutes early or never have to rush?

Tough would-you-rather dilemmas

Harder choices that spark a bit of friendly debate — great when you have a few extra minutes.

  • Would you rather be able to fast-forward time or rewind it?
  • Would you rather always know the answer or always ask the right question?
  • Would you rather have more time or more money?
  • Would you rather be the best on a struggling team or average on a great team?
  • Would you rather never feel tired or never feel hungry?
  • Would you rather be able to speak every language or play every instrument?
  • Would you rather have a do-over button or a pause button for life?
  • Would you rather always travel ten years into the future or ten years into the past?

Would-you-rather questions for adults

Grown-up choices that stay office-appropriate — a step up from the basics, good for a team that knows each other a little.

  • Would you rather have a longer holiday every year or a four-day week every week?
  • Would you rather always work remotely or always work in person?
  • Would you rather be your own boss or have a genuinely great boss?
  • Would you rather retire early or never have to retire at all?
  • Would you rather have a job you love on average pay or a job you tolerate on great pay?
  • Would you rather live in a big city or a quiet town?
  • Would you rather own a home with a long commute or rent with no commute?
  • Would you rather have unlimited free time or unlimited money?
  • Would you rather be respected in your field or wealthy but unknown?
  • Would you rather start every day slowly or finish every day early?

Funny would-you-rather questions

Light, silly trade-offs that get a laugh — perfect for loosening up a meeting before the serious work begins.

  • Would you rather always be ten minutes late or always be twenty minutes early?
  • Would you rather only be able to whisper or only be able to shout?
  • Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?
  • Would you rather have fingers as long as your legs or legs as long as your fingers?
  • Would you rather have to sing everything you say or dance everywhere you go?
  • Would you rather sneeze glitter or burp bubbles?
  • Would you rather always be slightly too hot or slightly too cold?
  • Would you rather only eat your favourite food forever or never eat it again?
  • Would you rather have a permanent clown nose or permanently squeaky shoes?
  • Would you rather your inner monologue be broadcast for an hour a day or never be able to lie?

Deep would-you-rather questions

Bigger, more thoughtful dilemmas for when a team has time to talk — they reveal how people think, not just what they like.

  • Would you rather be able to change the past or see the future?
  • Would you rather be remembered for one great thing or quietly loved by everyone who knows you?
  • Would you rather have a few deep friendships or many casual ones?
  • Would you rather always know the truth or sometimes be spared it?
  • Would you rather master your work or master a passion outside it?
  • Would you rather be content with what you have or always striving for more?
  • Would you rather give up the internet for a year or your favourite hobby for a year?
  • Would you rather have more impact or more freedom?

Frequently asked questions

What are good this or that questions?
Good this-or-that questions offer two simple, work-safe options that anyone can choose between in a second, like 'Coffee or tea?' or 'Morning meetings or afternoon meetings?'. The best ones are light, inclusive, and need no explanation — people just pick one. Keep the topics everyday and friendly so nobody feels put on the spot, and the choices stay fun rather than serious.
What is the difference between this-or-that and would-you-rather?
Both are binary-choice icebreakers, but the phrasing differs. This-or-that names two things and asks you to pick one — 'Beach or mountains?'. Would-you-rather frames two full scenarios and asks which you would prefer — 'Would you rather work from home forever or in an office forever?'. This-or-that is faster and snappier, while would-you-rather invites a little more explanation and friendly debate, so it suits a group with a few extra minutes.
What are good would you rather questions for work?
Good would-you-rather questions for work stay light and never touch on salary, performance, or anything personal. Try options about working style or preferences, such as 'Would you rather have a four-day week or finish every day at 3pm?' or 'Would you rather have no meetings or no email?'. These spark a fun, low-stakes discussion and quietly reveal how teammates like to work, without putting anyone in an awkward position.
How do you use this-or-that questions in a meeting?
Open the meeting with one or two questions before the agenda. Read out the two options, give people a moment, then ask them to call out or type their pick in the chat. Because each answer is just one word, even a big or remote group can respond quickly. Time-box it to a couple of minutes, then move straight into the agenda while the energy is up.
What are good would you rather questions for adults?
Good would-you-rather questions for adults stay office-appropriate but assume a bit of life experience — choices about work, money, time, and lifestyle rather than playground topics. Options like 'Would you rather have unlimited free time or unlimited money?' or 'Would you rather be your own boss or have a genuinely great boss?' spark a real conversation and quietly reveal what people value, without ever straying into anything personal or awkward for a work setting.
What are funny would you rather questions?
Funny would-you-rather questions pose two absurd or impossible options and let people defend their choice — that is where the laughs come from. Classics like 'Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?' or 'Would you rather sneeze glitter or burp bubbles?' work because there is no sensible answer, so everyone relaxes and the debate gets playful. They are ideal for loosening up a meeting before the serious work begins.