walk on eggshells
Avoid causing offense
To walk on eggshells is to act with extreme caution to avoid upsetting someone or triggering conflict.
The image is of tiptoeing across fragile shells that would crack under normal steps.
The phrase usually describes relationships where one person's volatility or sensitivity forces others into constant vigilance: I've been walking on eggshells around my boss ever since the layoffs were announced.
Under uncomfortable tension
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
- fraughtFull of difficulty
hostile · explosive · conflict · friction · charged · combustible · minefield · hair-trigger
Walk on foot-fronts
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- waryGuardedly alert
- guardedWary and restrained
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
tentative · heedful · vigilant · measured · deliberate · gingerly · watchful · alert
Liable to shatter
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- breakableCapable of shattering
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- tenuousLacking solid foundation
precarious · unstable · sensitive · temperamental · thin-skinned · touchy · mercurial · volatile
Uneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- fearfulFull of fright
dread · stress · trepidation · hypervigilance · on-edge · uneasy · fretful · second-guessing
Socially sensitive and careful
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- considerateMindful of others' needs
polite · courteous · gracious · finesse · savoir-faire · soft-spoken · restrained · conciliatory
strained
Under uncomfortable tension
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- volatileLiable to sudden change
- unpredictableCannot be anticipated
fraught · hostile · explosive · conflict · friction · charged · combustible · minefield · hair-trigger · turbulent
tiptoe
Walk on foot-fronts
circumspect · tentative · heedful · vigilant · measured · deliberate · gingerly · watchful · alert · cagey
brittle
Liable to shatter
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- breakableCapable of shattering
- vulnerableOpen to attack
tenuous · precarious · unstable · sensitive · temperamental · thin-skinned · touchy · mercurial · volatile · moody
nervous
Uneasy and apprehensive
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
- worriedTroubled by uncertainty
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
fearful · dread · stress · trepidation · hypervigilance · on-edge · uneasy · fretful · second-guessing · overthinking
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
considerate · polite · courteous · gracious · finesse · savoir-faire · soft-spoken · restrained · conciliatory · peacemaking
- food idiomspiece of cake, bread winner, low-hanging fruit, cool as a cucumber, bad egg
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
walk on eggshellsbull in a china shop
Clumsy person causing damage
throw caution to the wind · let loose · charge ahead · damn the torpedoes · steamroll
walk on eggshellsspeak one's mind
State opinions openly
tell it like it is · not mince words · speak freely · shoot from the hip · call a spade a spade
walk on eggshellsbe oneself
Act without pretense
let one's guard down · relax · breathe easy · act naturally · feel free
walk, walks, walked, walking, walker, walkers, eggs, eggshell, eggshells