wearing white gloves

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomfigurative

   Acting with extreme care and politeness, as if handling something delicate.

   Grammar: Used after be or as a describing phrase: they were wearing white gloves with him.

   Patterns

   • handle someone with white gloves
   • treat someone with kid gloves
   • wearing white gloves around someone

   The managers were wearing white gloves when they talked to the star player.

   You don't need to wear white gloves with me — just tell me the truth.

2. 2phraseidiom

   Literally having white gloves on the hands, especially as part of formal dress.

   Grammar: The literal use describes actual clothing; context makes clear which meaning is intended.

   Patterns

   • be wearing white gloves
   • wearing white gloves at an event

   The waiters were wearing white gloves at the reception.

   She was wearing white gloves and a long coat.

Common combinations

handle someone with kid gloves

They handled the new employee with kid gloves for the first month.

treat someone with white gloves

The critics treated the young director with white gloves.

with white gloves on

He dealt with the complaint with white gloves on.

Synonyms and how they differ

with kid gloves

The far more common fixed idiom meaning the same thing; 'white gloves' is a looser, more literal-sounding variant.

delicately

An adverb describing careful handling; it does not carry the image of gloves.

gently

Simply means softly or kindly, without the idea of special, cautious treatment.

Opposites

Word family

glove noun

A covering for the hand with separate parts for each finger.

gloved adjective

Wearing gloves.

Commonly confused: wearing white gloves or white-collar?

Practice

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