broke the ice

Verb

break the ice (third-person singular simple present breaks the ice, present participle breaking the ice, simple past broke the ice, past participle broken the ice)

1. (idiomatic) To start to get to know people to avoid social awkwardness and formality.
   • Including a few fun details in large group introductions can be a great way to break the ice.
2. (idiomatic) To introduce a conversation.
   • If it be so ſir, that you are the man Muſt ſteed us all, and me amongſt the reſt: And if you breake the ice and do this ſeeke, Atchieve the elder: ſet the yonger free, For our acceſſe, whose hap ſhall be to have her, will not so graceleſſe be, to be ingrate.c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
3. (idiomatic) To surmount initial difficulties; to overcome obstacles and make a beginning.
4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see break, the, ice.