Breaking the ice definition police

Break the Ice Meaning

Definition: To get past the initial awkwardness of meeting a new person or an otherwise uncomfortable situation.

This idiom is often used to describe saying something friendly to break the silence between two people.

Origin of Break the Ice

This idiom most likely developed from the practice of boats at sea breaking the ice in a body of water in order to pass through it and clear a path for other boats to also travel through.

This phrase has been used with its literal meaning since around the early 1600s, and its idiomatic usage developed somewhat later.

Examples of Break the Ice

Additionally, this idiom can be used to describe an activity in which groups of people who have just met get to know each other, as it is in the conversation below.

Ezekiel: Hey, Maggie, how’s it going?

Maggie: Pretty good actually.

I’m just planning for a class that I’m going to be teaching this weekend.

Ezekiel: Really? That sounds like fun!

Maggie: Yeah, I’m pretty m