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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame ==Origin== The earlier meaning of this phrase, i.e. 'to forge a path for others to follow' alludes of cour...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Ice-breaking.jpg|right|frame]]
==Origin==
The earlier [[meaning]] of this phrase, i.e. 'to forge a [[path]] for others to follow' alludes of course to the breaking of ice to allow the [[navigation]] of boats. The figurative use is quite old and was recorded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Thomas_North Sir Thomas North] in his 1579 translation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch's_Lives Plutarch's Lives] of the noble Grecians and Romanes:
:"To be the first to break the Ice of the Enterprize."
==Recent History==
It wasn't until the latter part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 17th century] that it took on its current 'establish a relaxed [[relationship]] in socially awkward situations' [[meaning]]; for example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Butler Samuel Butler]'s Hudibras, 1678:
:"The Oratour - At last broke [[silence]], and the Ice."
If we move forward another two hundred years 'breaking the ice' reverts to its original usage, when specialist ice-breaking ships were introduced. These ships, known as ice-breakers, were equipped with strengthened hulls and powerful engines, were employed in the [[exploration]] of polar regions.
Soon after the ships were introduced the term 'ice-breaker' began to be applied to [[social]] [[initiatives]] which were intended to get [[strangers]] acquainted with one another. In 1883, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain Mark Twain] used the word that way in Life on Mississippi:
:"They closed up the inundation with a few [[words]] - having used it, evidently, as a mere ''ice-breaker'' and acquaintanceship-breeder - then they dropped into business."[http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/break-the-ice.html]
[[Category: Languages and Literature]]
==Origin==
The earlier [[meaning]] of this phrase, i.e. 'to forge a [[path]] for others to follow' alludes of course to the breaking of ice to allow the [[navigation]] of boats. The figurative use is quite old and was recorded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Thomas_North Sir Thomas North] in his 1579 translation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch's_Lives Plutarch's Lives] of the noble Grecians and Romanes:
:"To be the first to break the Ice of the Enterprize."
==Recent History==
It wasn't until the latter part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 17th century] that it took on its current 'establish a relaxed [[relationship]] in socially awkward situations' [[meaning]]; for example, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Butler Samuel Butler]'s Hudibras, 1678:
:"The Oratour - At last broke [[silence]], and the Ice."
If we move forward another two hundred years 'breaking the ice' reverts to its original usage, when specialist ice-breaking ships were introduced. These ships, known as ice-breakers, were equipped with strengthened hulls and powerful engines, were employed in the [[exploration]] of polar regions.
Soon after the ships were introduced the term 'ice-breaker' began to be applied to [[social]] [[initiatives]] which were intended to get [[strangers]] acquainted with one another. In 1883, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain Mark Twain] used the word that way in Life on Mississippi:
:"They closed up the inundation with a few [[words]] - having used it, evidently, as a mere ''ice-breaker'' and acquaintanceship-breeder - then they dropped into business."[http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/break-the-ice.html]
[[Category: Languages and Literature]]