walked on eggshells
Moved with care
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.
Usually describes navigating around a volatile person or tense situation: We all walked on eggshells around him when he was in one of his moods.
After the affair came out, the whole family walked on eggshells for months.
- appeaseSatisfy to restore calm
- carefulExercising caution and attention
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- mindfulConsciously attentive
- tenuousLacking solid foundation
delicate · cautious · de-escalate · diplomatic · placate · defuse · tiptoeing · thin ice · on edge · vulnerable · fragile · temperamental · sensitive · read the room · bite your tongue · considerate · pacify · keep the peace
walked on eggshellsspoke one's mind
Shared candid views
let it all hang out · shot from the hip · told it like it is · damn the torpedoes · bull in a china shop
walked, walking, walks, walker, walkers, eggshell, eggshells, shell, shells