The surprising origins of the most common phrases we use

[post_page_title]”Break the ice”[/post_page_title]

Breaking the ice is to embark on a pathway towards a friendship, and originates from when ships were the main mode of transport in the trading industry. During the winter, ships would get trapped due to ice formation.

“Break the ice”

The country importing the goods would send out smaller ships to, literally, break the ice and clear a path for other, larger ships from the exporting country. This act was a gesture of affinity and unity between the two trading countries.

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