handling with kid gloves
Being extra careful
Handling with kid gloves means treating someone or something with extreme care or delicacy, avoiding anything harsh or direct.
Kid gloves are made from soft goatskin leather—too fine for rough work.
The phrase usually implies excessive caution: The press has been handling the candidate with kid gloves.
Someone who takes off the kid gloves abandons gentleness for tougher treatment.
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- gentleSoft and kind
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
with care · walking on eggshells · velvet glove · soft-handed · tactful · cautious · tiptoeing · easy does it · delicate · attentive · temperate · overprotectiveness · mindful · finesse · soft-pedaling · playing it safe · circumspection · soft touch
handling with kid glovesmanhandling
Treating with physical force
riding roughshod over · steamrolling · bulldozing · strong-arming · roughing up
handling with kid glovestelling it like it is
Speaking plain, unfiltered truth
calling a spade a spade · cutting to the chase · reading the riot act · dressing down · tearing into
handling with kid gloveslaying down the law
Firmly stating rules
holding to account · taking to task · reading the riot act · throwing the book at
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