thin ice
Dangerous footing metaphorically
Thin ice is a dangerous situation where one wrong move could bring serious consequences.
Someone skating on thin ice or on thin ice is risking trouble—with a boss, a relationship, or any authority.
The image comes from literal thin ice over water, which may crack and plunge you through.
Liable to shatter
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- fractureSplit in hard material
- breakInterrupt continuity
- shatterFragment violently, suddenly
splinter · give way · collapse · crumble · snap · fragile · delicate · tenuous
Serious threat of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
- riskPossibility of harm
- precariousDangerously insecure
unsafe · treacherous · vulnerability · exposure · brinkmanship · recklessness · gamble · liability
Careful attention to risk
- bewareExercise vigilant caution
- red flagIndicator of danger
- warning signIndicator of potential danger
- alertWarning or watchfulness
advisory · heed · forewarn · ominous · signal · alarm · threat · menace
Persistent apprehensive distress
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
edginess · walking on eggshells · suspense · dread · strain · discomfort · jitters · nail-biting
brittle
Liable to shatter
shatter · splinter · give way · collapse · crumble · snap · fragile · delicate · tenuous · precarious
peril
Serious threat of harm
precarious · unsafe · treacherous · vulnerability · exposure · brinkmanship · recklessness · gamble · liability · volatile
caution
Careful attention to risk
- bewareExercise vigilant caution
- red flagIndicator of danger
- warning signIndicator of potential danger
alert · advisory · heed · forewarn · ominous · signal · alarm · threat · menace · pushing limits
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
trepidation · edginess · walking on eggshells · suspense · dread · strain · discomfort · jitters · nail-biting · sweating
- iceiceberg, floe, skating rink, rink, polar cap
- weakened thingsweak link, brittle bone, worn tread, dying ember, low battery
- ice fishingtip-up, tip-ups, auger, augers, fish house
- lake icefrozen lake, frozen lakes, freeze-up, slush, icebound
- dangersdanger, peril, hazard, risk, menace
- Delicate Thingsbutterfly wing, spider web, bubble, soap bubble, eggshell
thin icesolid ground
Stable surface beneath
safe passage · firm footing · terra firma · clear sailing · smooth sailing
thin icesolid ground
Stable surface beneath
firm ground · thick ice · bedrock · terra firma · solid rock
ice, thin, iced, ices, thinned, thinning, thinner, thinness, iciness