Meaning
Be extremely cautious around someone to avoid upsetting them.
Primary Function
Expressing cautious behavior in tense situations
Communicative Purpose
To convey the need to avoid conflict or offense in delicate situations
Pattern
walk on eggshells
Core Structure
walk on eggshells
Função primária
Expressing cautious behavior in tense situations
Propósito comunicativo
To convey the need to avoid conflict or offense in delicate situations
Situações de gatilho
Volatile personalities, delicate topics, power imbalances
Contextos
Relationships, workplace politics, family dynamics
Padrão
walk on eggshells
Estrutura central
walk on eggshells
Slots de substituição
none
Colocados típicos
- feel like
- tiptoeing around
- have to
Substituições comuns
- tread carefully
- handle with kid gloves
Erros comuns
walk on eggshell (singular)
Similar / contraste
walk a tightrope, dance around the issue
Interferências
Not about breakfast.
Família do chunk
- Sensitivity/caution idioms
Nuance
Stressed, constrained, emotionally guarded
Efeito pragmático
Conveys discomfort and the fear of provoking a negative reaction
Dica de memória
Stepping carefully among fragile eggs
Nota
This idiom is often used to describe situations where someone is being overly cautious to avoid conflict or displeasure, especially with people who are known to be sensitive or easily upset.
Upgrade path
exercise extreme caution in interactions (formal)
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