walking on thin ice

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomfigurative

   In a risky situation where a small mistake could cause serious trouble.

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase, often after 'be' or 'like': 'You are walking on thin ice.'

   Patterns

   • be walking on thin ice
   • be skating on thin ice
   • walking on thin ice with someone

   After missing three deadlines, he knew he was walking on thin ice at work.

   She's walking on thin ice with her parents after lying to them.

   If you keep arriving late, you're walking on thin ice.

2. 2phraseidiom

   In a dangerous physical situation that could easily become serious.

   Grammar: Literally describes walking on a frozen surface that might break.

   Patterns

   • be walking on thin ice

   The hikers were walking on thin ice near the edge of the frozen lake.

   Rescue teams warned that walking on thin ice is extremely dangerous.

Common combinations

be walking on thin ice

You're walking on thin ice if you keep ignoring the rules.

skating on thin ice

He's skating on thin ice with that attitude.

on thin ice with someone

After the argument, she was on thin ice with her boss.

Synonyms and how they differ

in hot water

Means in trouble, often after doing something wrong; 'walking on thin ice' focuses more on the risk of future trouble.

risky

A general adjective for something dangerous; the idiom is more specific about being close to a bad outcome.

Opposites

Commonly confused: walking on thin ice or on thin ice?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “walking on thin ice”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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