het ijs breken

== Dutch == === Alternative forms === het ys breeken (obsolete) het ys breken (obsolete) === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ɦɛt ˈɛi̯s ˈbreː.kə(n)/, /ɦət ˈɛi̯s ˈbreː.kə(n)/ === Verb === het ijs breken to break the ice, to get to know people [from 19th c.] (archaic) to do important preparatory work, to clear the way, to be the first one to do something [18th–19th c.] 1778, Hieronymus van Alphen, "Inleiding", in F. J. Rieder, Theorie der schoone kunsten en wetenschappen, vol. I, tr. from High German, page x. 1818, "Handleiding tot de Behandeling, Gezondheidsbewaring, en de Geneeswijze van de Ziekten der Paarden; door C.A. Geisweit van der Netten" (book review), in Vaderlandsche letteroefeningen, page 389. 1840, Nicolaas Beets, Twaalf preeken, erven F. Bohm (publ.), page 63, footnote 2 (continuing from previous page). ==== Conjugation ====