walk on eggshells

1800s usage, probably from the imagery that eggshells are easily broken when stepped upon.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌwɔːk ɒn ˈɛɡʃɛlz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌwɔk ɑn ˈɛɡʃɛlz/, /ˌwɑk-/, /-ɔn-/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

walk on eggshells (third-person singular simple present walks on eggshells, present participle walking on eggshells, simple past and past participle walked on eggshells)

1. (idiomatic) To be overly careful in dealing with a person or situation because they get angry or offended very easily; to try very hard not to upset someone or something.
2. (idiomatic) To be careful and sensitive, in handling very sensitive matters.

• (walking) on thin ice
• pussyfoot
• tiptoe through a minefield
• tread lightly

• “walk on eggshells”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.