Dictionary

walk on eggshells en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌwɔːk ɒn ˈɛɡʃɛlz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˌwɑk-/ (General-American)
• /ˌwɔk ɑn ˈɛɡʃɛlz/ (General-American)
• /-ɔn-/ (General-American)

Etymology

1800s usage, probably from the imagery that eggshells are easily broken when stepped upon.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To be overly careful in dealing with a person or situation because they get angry or offended very easily; to try very hard not to upset someone or something.
2. (idiomatic) To be careful and sensitive, in handling very sensitive matters.

Forms

Relateds

pussyfoot · tread lightly · on thin ice (walking) · tiptoe through a minefield

Translations (44)

fr marcher sur des œufs (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · ru ходи́ть по я́йцам (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · pt pisar em ovos (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · ru ходи́ть по я́йцам (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · sh ходати по јајима (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · nl op eieren lopen (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · uk бігати, як курка з яйцем (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · gl ir cos pés de la (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · it andare coi piedi di piombo (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · it camminare sulle uova (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · fr prendre des pincettes (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · ru ходи́ть на цы́почках (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · es andar entre algodones (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · hy գործել մեծագույն զգուշությամբ (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · fi käsitellä silkkihansikkain (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · uk носитися, як курка з яйцем (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · ru ходи́ть на цы́рлах (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · de wie ein rohes Ei behandeln (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · da gå på æggeskaller (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · hy վարվել շրջահայաց կերպով (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · sh ходати по јајима (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · fi pitää kuin kukkaa kämmenellä (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · fr prendre des gants (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · pl obchodzić się jak z jajkiem (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · cmn 伴君如伴虎 (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · bg действам внимателно (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · fr prendre des pincettes (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · de einen Eiertanz vollführen (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · he הלך על ביצים (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · cmn 谨慎行事 (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · ru ходи́ть по яи́чной скорлупе́ (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · ca anar amb peus de plom (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · es andar entre algodones (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · hy լինել նուրբ նկատառում պահանջող դրության մեջ (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · pl obchodzić się jak z jajkiem (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · cmn 謹慎行事 (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · es proceder entre algodones (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · ca anar amb peus de plom (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · pt pisar em ovos (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · es proceder entre algodones (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · ru ходи́ть на цы́почках (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · fr mettre des gants (to handle sensitive matters delicately) · nl op eieren lopen (to act carefully to avoid upsetting someone) · cmn 如履薄冰 (to handle sensitive matters delicately)