kid-glove
Careful, soft approach
Kid-glove describes handling something with extreme care and delicacy, as kid leather (made from young goat skin) is soft and requires gentle treatment.
The term usually carries a faintly critical edge—suggesting excessive caution or coddling: The press gave the candidate kid-glove treatment.
To handle with kid gloves is to treat someone or something with unusual gentleness, often more than warranted.
Exercising caution and attention
- waryGuardedly alert
- guardedWary and restrained
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- gingerlyWith wary caution
prudent · heedful · mindful · watchful · meticulous · chary · tiptoe · circumspect
Socially sensitive and careful
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- courteousShowing respectful consideration
polite · considerate · respectful · subtle · gracious · conciliatory · negotiator · mediator
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- spoilingCausing ruin or decay
- babyingTreating as helpless
- cossetingOverprotective care
- dotingExcessively affectionate toward
indulgent · overprotective · fussing · sheltering · mollycoddling · hand-holding · catering · accommodating
Soft or sore
- softYielding to touch
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- caringShowing kind concern
- kindType or caring
compassionate · nurturing · affectionate · sympathetic · warmhearted · benign · lenient · merciful
careful
Exercising caution and attention
gingerly · prudent · heedful · mindful · watchful · meticulous · chary · tiptoe · circumspect · conservative
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
courteous · polite · considerate · respectful · subtle · gracious · conciliatory · negotiator · mediator · peacemaker
coddling
Overindulgent, protective treatment
doting · indulgent · overprotective · fussing · sheltering · mollycoddling · hand-holding · catering · accommodating · permissive
tender
Soft or sore
kind · compassionate · nurturing · affectionate · sympathetic · warmhearted · benign · lenient · merciful · humane
fine
Acceptable in quality
velvet · plush · premium · quality · sophisticated · exclusive · fancy · dainty · pristine · immaculate
kid-gloveheavy-handed
Clumsy and oppressive
rough · harsh · brutal · iron-fisted · hard-nosed
kid-gloveundiplomatic
Lacking tact or finesse
blunt · tactless · harsh · brusque · indelicate
kids, kidding, gloves, kiddo, kidded, gloved, kiddies, kidder, kidders