break the ice
Formsbreaks the ice, breaking the ice, broke the ice, broken the ice
- 1To say or do something friendly so people relax when they first meet.
Like a friendly smile that makes a quiet room feel warm.
At the party, she told a funny story to break the ice.
A few jokes broke the ice on the first day of class.
Note
- 2To say the first words that get people talking.
Like turning a key to start a car: the first word gets everything going.
He broke the ice by asking where everyone was from.
Someone has to break the ice, so I said hello first.
Note
- 3To get past the hardest first steps so you can begin something.
Like the first crack in a frozen lake that lets the water move.
After months of planning, the first sale finally broke the ice for the new business.
Once we break the ice on the project, the rest will feel easier.
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Origin
This is a picture-phrase. It imagines strangers as being kept apart by ice, so starting to talk breaks that ice.