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tread lightly

American

[tred lahyt-lee] / ˈtrɛd ˈlaɪt li /

Also tread carefully

idiom

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.

Etymology

Origin of tread lightly

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my career, it’s that you should tread lightly when speaking critically of James Cameron’s passion project, the “Avatar” series.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2025

But those who knew Rashid personally say he was a man who tread lightly.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2024

Julie Jackson’s use of reclaimed wood reinforces her commitment to creating sustainable home goods that tread lightly on the environment.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2023

This idea that we tread lightly on the Earth, only taking what we need and never more, is something that Indigenous people grow up learning.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2023

Tucked away in the electronics corner, Zane did his best to tread lightly, quietly.

From "A Tangle of Knots" by Lisa Graff

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023