To "break the ice" means to to say or do something to help make an awkward situation more comfortable.

The original literal definition of breaking the ice referred to icebreaker ships whose function was to break the ice to clear passage for other ships. The definition as we know it now evolved into a social meaning with the earliest recorded writing in this context appearing in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, written circa 1590. In this play, Shakespeare has Tranio, disguised as Lucentio, say: "If it be so, sir, that you are the man, must stead us all, and me amongst the rest, and if you break the ice and do this feat, achieve the elder, set the younger free..."

Use Example - To help her guests feel comfortable, Sally decided to break the ice by telling everyone about something funny that had happened to her that day.

Source Tags : Shakespeare