eggshell

walk on eggshells 

1. Fig. to walk very carefully; to take steps gingerly. Since he stumbled and fell against the china cabinet, Bill has been walking on eggshells.

2. Fig. to be very diplomatic and inoffensive. I was walking on eggshells trying to explain the remark to her without offending her further.

See also: walk

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be walking/treading on eggshells

if you are walking on eggshells, you are trying very hard not to upset someone

Usage notes: An eggshell is the hard outside covering of an egg which breaks very easily.

It was like walking on eggshells with my father. The smallest thing would make him angry.

See also: walking

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walk on eggshells

to try very hard not to upset someone or something Everyone at the company was walking on eggshells until we heard that no one would be fired.

Etymology: based on the idea that eggshells are easily broken

See also: walk