walk on eggshell
walk on eggshell
Meaning
- to be careful about one’s words or actions around another person
- to be cautious of offending someone through your words or actions
- to be overly careful around someone because they are sensitive
Example Sentences
- Whenever Lisa is around the house, everyone has to walk on eggshells around her in order not to get her annoyed.
- With my mom, I always feel like I am walking around on eggshells.
- David is so sensitive that all his friends have to walk on eggshells around him.
- I hate it when I have to walk on eggshells around Peter.
- Mary is very opinionated and so she doesn’t understand why she has to walk on eggshells around her aunt.
- I make it a habit not to walk on eggshells around my friends.
Origin
To walk on eggshells originates clearly from the imagery. Eggshells are very fragile so it would take great care to walk on them without smashing them. It’s alike to walking on thin ice in reality. Therefore, in the 1800s, this phrase came to be used to describe people who you have to be careful around with your words and actions in order not to get them offended, hurt or upset.
Share your opinions1 Opinion
But it makes no sense. The original statement was “walking on eggs,” because you could not get your footing in a room filled with eggs on the floor—NO FOOTING. You just rolled around. Logic says that “walking on eggshells” would give you very good footing and do nothing but make a crunching sound.
‒ Mya January 22, 2023