break the silence

English

break the silence (third-person singular simple present breaks the silence, present participle breaking the silence, simple past broke the silence, past participle broken the silence)

To start talking in a conversation after a period where nobody speaks.
Both men waited for the captain to make a decision. Finally, Dean broke the silence. “We need to know what to do, Captain! Before we sink!”
- 1990, Depeche Mode (lyrics and music), “Enjoy the Silence”, in Violator:
  Words, like violence, / Break the silence / Come crashing in, / Into my little world
To state an opinion on a subject that has been taboo for a period of time.
- 2012 June 19, Julian Baggini, “Why it's not the Dalai Lama's job to break the silence on Tibet”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:
  The Free Tibet campaign is calling on world leaders to break the silence, claiming they "continue to refrain from publicly speaking out for Tibet".