walking

be floating/walking on air

to be very happy and excited because something very pleasant has happened to you. When the doctor told me I was going to have a baby, I was walking on air.

See also: air

be (skating/walking) on thin ice

to be taking a big risk. They knew that by publishing the article they were skating on thin ice.

See also: ice, thin

be walking/treading on eggshells

if you are walking on eggshells, you are trying very hard not to upset someone. It was like walking on eggshells with my father. The smallest thing would make him angry.

See also: eggshell, tread

get your walking papers (American)

give someone their walking papers - to tell someone they must leave their job. Since they got their walking papers from the chemical company, none of them has been able to find another job.

See also: paper

give someone their walking papers (American)

to tell someone they must leave their job. The manager gave his old secretary her walking papers and hired his daughter to do the job.

See also: give, paper