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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.

Just tread lightly if you’re feeding a crowd—spice tolerance can vary wildly.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2025

Speaking at the summit, Sir Keir said the new UK target would be "difficult" but "achievable", and he wanted government to "tread lightly on people's lives".

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2024

Both Teigen and Chang tread lightly when talking about the restaurant industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2024

Become a state — or cross your fingers, tread lightly and hope for the best.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 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