tread lightly

Also tread care·ful·ly

[tred lahyt-lee]

idiom

1. to act or speak with care and tactfulness in order to avoid words or behavior that could be offensive or upsetting to others.

   There are certain issues we have to tread lightly on if we have any hope of helping these kids.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tread lightly¹

First recorded in 1990–95