verb phrase🎓 English idiom

walk on eggshells

to act very carefully to avoid upsetting someone

What it means

To act very carefully and tactfully to avoid upsetting or offending someone. It describes a tense atmosphere in which every word or action must be measured.

Examples

  • Since the argument, everyone's been walking on eggshells around her.
  • I feel like I'm walking on eggshells whenever the boss is in a mood.
  • He walks on eggshells with his father to avoid another heated row.
  • After the layoffs, staff were walking on eggshells, afraid to speak up.

Where it comes from

The image of treading on fragile eggshells that could crack at any moment gave rise to this expression, which became common in the 20th century.

Related idioms

#on thin ice#get cold feet#bite your tongue#sit tight

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