Wiktionary
broke the ice
vb. (en-simple pastbreak the ice)
Usage examples of "broke the ice".
Lifting the pitcher, he broke the ice inside and poured the water into a slop bowl.
On the second step it broke under his weight and he was standing on the muddy bottom, covered to the thighs in the freezing water, but he ignored the numbing cold of it, broke the ice in front of him and pulled himself up on to the far bank.
Kruin and I broke the ice and melted some of it in a saucepan over the fire.
It was this, more than the death, more than the coldness of his father's cheek, that broke the ice that had formed about his feelings.
My singing made the gale blow that broke the ice and drew the two dogs toward Kotuko when the ice would have crushed his bones.