handle with kid gloves en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From kid glove.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To treat (a person or a subject) very delicately or carefully, especially so as not to cause offense or controversy.
He does not trifle with them, or handle them with kid gloves. No, he judges them to be the scum of the earth, and he treats them accordingly by putting them away.
1884, C. H. Spurgeon, “Psalm One Hundred and Nineteen—Verses 113 to 120, Exposition”, in The Treasury of David: […], volume VI, London: Passmore and Alabaster, 4 paternoster Buildings, page 260:[Richard] Ingrams has always enjoyed a reputation for insensitivity. As with other columnists in the British press, he treads on toes to make his point and rides roughshod over issues that others handle with kid gloves, or avoid altogether.
2003 August 3, Stephen Pritchard, “Racist or just anti-Sharon?”, in The Guardian:The campaign staff cautioned the candidate to handle the issue with kid gloves.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| handled with kid gloves | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| handled with kid gloves | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| handles with kid gloves | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| handling with kid gloves | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (15)
de mit Samthandschuhen anfassen (to treat something very delicately) · pl obcyndalać się (to treat something very delicately) · sv behandla med silkesvantar (to treat something very delicately) · he טיפל בכפפות של משי (to treat something very delicately) · fr prendre des gants (to treat something very delicately) · fi käsitellä silkkihansikkain (to treat something very delicately) · cs jednat v rukavičkách (to treat something very delicately) · sv hantera med silkesvantar (to treat something very delicately) · it trattare con i guanti (to treat something very delicately) · pl patyczkować się (to treat something very delicately) · pl cackać się (to treat something very delicately) · vi nhẹ tay (to treat something very delicately) · de mit Glacéhandschuhen anfassen (to treat something very delicately) · hu kesztyűs kézzel bánik (valakivel, valamivel) (to treat something very delicately) · mi whakahangahanga (to treat something very delicately)