Meaning & use
tread lightly
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Meanings
phraseidiomfigurative
To behave carefully and gently in a delicate situation so as not to upset anyone or cause trouble.
Grammar: Intransitive, no object; often followed by around or when: tread lightly around the boss.
Patterns
- tread lightly around someone
- tread lightly when doing something
- tread lightly on something
You should tread lightly when you bring up the budget with her.
The new teacher trod lightly around the subject of grades at the first meeting.
Negotiators must tread lightly if they want both sides to keep talking.
phraseidiomfigurative
To have as small an effect as possible on the natural environment.
Grammar: Often followed by on: tread lightly on the land.
Patterns
- tread lightly on something
Campers are asked to tread lightly on the mountain trails.
The resort was built to tread lightly on the surrounding forest.
phraseidiomliterary
To walk with soft, quiet steps.
Grammar: Literal and rare; more often written than spoken.
Patterns
- tread lightly on something
She trod lightly on the old floorboards so as not to wake anyone.
He tread lightly past the sleeping dog.
Word forms
| third person singular | treads lightly |
|---|---|
| past tense | trod lightly |
| past participle | trodden lightly |
| -ing form | treading lightly |
Common combinations
- tread lightly around
- Tread lightly around him until he has had his coffee.
- need to tread lightly
- We need to tread lightly while the merger is still secret.
- tread lightly on
- Tread lightly on the issue of religion at dinner.
- tread lightly with
- Tread lightly with your criticism of her first draft.
- advise someone to tread lightly
- My lawyer advised me to tread lightly in my emails.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be careful
- Be careful is plain and general, while tread lightly specifically suggests avoiding offense in a sensitive matter.
- walk on eggshells
- Walking on eggshells suggests fear of someone's reaction, while treading lightly is more about prudent restraint.
- proceed with caution
- Proceed with caution is more formal and covers risky actions, not just touchy social ones.
- be discreet
- Being discreet focuses on keeping things private, while treading lightly focuses on avoiding upset.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: tread lightly or tread water?
tread lightly vs tread water
To tread water means to stay afloat in deep water by moving your legs, or figuratively to make no progress; it is not about caution.
Practice
Since the two managers are not speaking, you should ____ when you mention the project.
Choose one answer.
Tread lightly means to act with care in a touchy situation. Barge in suggests the opposite, and tread water means making no progress.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tread lightly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.