on tiptoe

Idioms  

1. Eagerly anticipating something, as in The children were on tiptoe before the birthday party . [Late 1500s]

2. Moving stealthily, warily, as in They went down the hall on tiptoe . [Mid-1700s] Both usages transfer standing on one's toes to a particular reason for doing so; def. 2 alludes to moving more quietly in this fashion.

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Example Sentences

Father would stand at his vantage point on the platform almost on tiptoe with the joy of precision, holding his pocket watch and a pad and pencil.

From Literature

As the weather turned warm and I grew stronger, I would stand up to catch the sunshine on my face and chest, moving along the wall with the moving light, climbing at last onto the cot to stand on tiptoe in the final rays.

From Literature

Listening to them, I feel like I’m standing on tiptoe in that place between the shallow end and the deep end of the pool even though I’m on dry land.

From Literature

Entering on tiptoe, he eased the door shut behind him.

From Literature

Still on tiptoe, Jeremy climbed the stairs, the egg twitching and jerking in his hand.

From Literature