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to break the ice
01
to make two or more strangers get comfortable with each other and engage in a conversation
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "break the ice" and when to use it?
The idiom "break the ice" originates from the custom of ships breaking through ice formations in colder regions to create a navigable path for other vessels. In a figurative sense, this expression is used to emphasize the idea of making a situation more comfortable and approachable, much like breaking through the initial barriers of ice.
Exempel
Their amiable conversation helped break the ice at the networking event.
The workers needed to break the ice up to clear the pathway.
He opened his set with a quick gag to break the ice and set the tone for the rest of the performance.
In English, the idiom 'break the ice' is used to describe starting a conversation in a social setting to ease tension, not actually cracking ice.
