break the ice

Cultural  

1. To remove the tension at a first meeting, at the opening of a party, etc.: “That joke really broke the ice at the conference; we all relaxed afterward.”

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break the ice Idioms  

1. Make a start, pave the way, as in Newton's theories broke the ice for modern physics . This idiom alludes to breaking ice in a channel so that a ship can pass. [Early 1600s] Also see break ground .

2. Relax a tense or very formal situation, as in Someone at the conference table will have to break the ice . [Early 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

break the ice

Member Karen Bird said simple touches helped break the ice.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Over two decades later, in February 1972, then US president Richard Nixon flew to China to break the ice.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

Last year, out of what he said was concern for young people and the nation’s birthrates, Ackman urged more men to approach women and break the ice by asking, “May I meet you?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

Using shared interests to break the ice on social networking sites can help users overlook other differences at first.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024

They didn’t start the snowmobile up for fear that just yanking on the starter cord would break the ice underneath their feet.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz