kid gloves
Soft leather handwear
Kid gloves are gloves made from the soft leather of a young goat.
The phrase handle with kid gloves means to treat something or someone with extreme care or delicacy, as one would treat fine leather: The new CEO will have to handle the board with kid gloves.
The expression often implies excessive gentleness where firmness might be warranted.
Soft or sore
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- softYielding to touch
- gentleSoft and kind
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
compassionate · lenient · soothing · light-handed · considerate · kind · caring · gracious
Exercising caution and attention
- guardedWary and restrained
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- prudentExercising sound judgment
wary · vigilant · heedful · risk-averse · conservative · restrained · deliberate · meticulous
Sensitivity in speech
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
courtesy · politeness · subtlety · consideration · respect · civility · savoir-faire · decorum
tender
Soft or sore
nurturing · compassionate · lenient · soothing · light-handed · considerate · kind · caring · gracious · merciful
careful
Exercising caution and attention
- guardedWary and restrained
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
prudent · wary · vigilant · heedful · risk-averse · conservative · restrained · deliberate · meticulous · scrupulous
tact
Sensitivity in speech
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- discretionCareful judgment in speech
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
sensitivity · courtesy · politeness · subtlety · consideration · respect · civility · savoir-faire · decorum · charm
fine
Acceptable in quality
chamois · elegant · refined · quality · craftsmanship · bespoke · tailored · formal wear · butler · aristocratic
- clothing idiomsdressed to the nines, dressed to kill, wear the pants, caught with pants down, at the drop of a hat
- gentle handlingcradling, cushioning, padding, wrapping, swaddling
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- formalwearball gown, tuxedo, evening gown, formal gown, tux
- gentle caretenderness, kindness, compassion, nurturing, soothing
- vintage menswearwaistcoat, cravat, top hat, frock coat, tailcoat
kid glovesiron fist
Brutal autocratic rule
heavy hand · rough treatment · gloves off · bare knuckles · hardball
kid glovesbrutal honesty
Unsparing directness in speech
bluntness · straight talk · harsh words · in-your-face · telling it like it is
kid, glove, kids, kidding, gloves, kiddo, kidded, gloved, kiddy