breaking the ice

VERB

prepare the way

Synonyms

WEAK

be friendly and talkative break ground cut the first turf get one's feet wet lay the first stone lead off lead the way make a start oil the works open the way pave the way set at ease smooth the path socialize start start the ball rolling take the plunge

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now there is a reward for breaking the ice: The person asking the initial question is sometimes offered a day off from work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

"The Swedish mentality is like – you shouldn't disturb others. We value personal space a lot, and we have a hard time breaking the ice," he says.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

The meeting is billed primarily as a social event geared toward breaking the ice between the two leaders in the absence of formal talks.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2021

But breaking the ice doesn’t need to be heavy.

From New York Times • Jul. 17, 2021

I ask, breaking the ice that never truly goes away between us.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman