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.

Dartmoor wild campers are being urged to "tread lightly and leave no trace", by the park authority after the ruling.

From BBC • May 22, 2025

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

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

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2023

Ackermann left impossible shoes to fill as the program’s founder, and Coyle has tread lightly, working with players who told athletic director Brad Cook they didn’t want much to change after the loss of Ackermann.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2023

“Just tread lightly, Parky. Lelia will do the right thing. This is the time to let her think.”

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

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