eggshell

walk on eggshells

To act with great care and consideration so as not to upset someone. The littlest thing tends to anger my mother, so I feel like I have to walk on eggshells whenever I'm at her house.

See also: eggshell, on, walk

be walking on eggshells

To be acting with great care and consideration so as not to upset someone. The littlest thing tends to anger my mother, so I feel like I'm always walking on eggshells whenever I'm at her house.

See also: eggshell, on, walking

be treading on eggshells

To be acting with great care and consideration so as not to upset someone, some situation, etc. The littlest thing tends to anger my mother, so I feel like I'm always treading on eggshells whenever I'm at her house.

See also: eggshell, on, tread

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: eggshell, on, walk

be treading on eggshells

or

be walking on eggshells

If you are treading on eggshells or are walking on eggshells, you are being extremely careful about what you say or do because you do not want to upset or offend someone. She was so easily offended, I felt as if I was treading on eggshells the whole time. Everyone was walking on eggshells around him, just not knowing what his reaction was going to be. Note: You can also say that someone is treading on eggs or is walking on eggs. Living with you is like treading on eggs.

See also: eggshell, on, tread

walk on ˈeggshells

be very careful not to upset somebody: I always felt as if I had to walk on eggshells around him so that I wouldn’t hurt his feelings.

See also: eggshell, on, walk