To say or do something to relieve tension or awkwardness in a social situation, especially when meeting new people.
Examples:
- She told a joke to break the ice at the dinner party.
- Asking about hometowns is a classic way to break the ice.
Origin: From the literal sense of ships breaking through ice to clear a passage, used metaphorically since the 17th century.
Synonyms: get the ball rolling, warm up