break the ice

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to share with me your opinion concerning the correctness of the following sentences?

On the instant he was thinking how natural and unaffected her manner was now that the ice between them had been broken. (Theodor Dreiser, “An American Tragedy”.)

They nodded to each other by way of breaking the ice of unacquaintance . (Theodor. Hardy, “The Three Strangers”.)

break the ice = relax a tense or very formal situation

unaquentance = the quality or state of being unacquainted; want of acquaintance; ignorance

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V

[Tdol]

Yup