- Being extremely cautious with one's words or actions to avoid offending or upsetting someone who is easily angered, sensitive, or in a difficult mood.
Explanation
Origin
- The imagery is literal: eggshells are fragile and break easily under the slightest pressure.
- Therefore, walking on eggshells means moving with extreme care and delicacy, much like one would have to if literally walking on a floor covered in eggshells, to avoid causing a disturbance (breaking the shells, or in the idiom's case, upsetting the person).
- It implies a tense atmosphere where a wrong step (word or action) could lead to negative consequences (anger, tears, conflict).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Sweating bullets (Implies nervousness about the interaction)
- Trying not to piss them off
- Keeping my head down
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Scared shitless to say the wrong thing.
- Trying not to fuck up around them.
Milder:
- Being careful
- Being cautious
- Trying to keep the peace
Situational Appropriateness
- Mostly informal to semi-formal.
- Understandable in professional settings but describes a negative dynamic, so use judiciously. Might be used when confiding in a trusted colleague about a difficult boss or client.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The literal meaning is absurd, so misunderstanding is unlikely once the figurative nature is grasped.
- Learners might underestimate the level of tension implied.
Examples
- Ever since the argument, I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around her.
- He's in such a bad mood today; everyone at the office is walking on eggshells.
- You have to walk on eggshells when discussing politics with my uncle.
Dialogue
Sarah: How was dinner with your parents?
Mark: Tense. My dad lost his job, so everyone was walking on eggshells all evening.
Sarah: Oh no, that's tough. I hope things get better for him soon.
Mark: Me too. It's hard seeing him so stressed.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Living with roommates during finals week = constant state of walking on eggshells. Please just be quiet! 🙏 #study #stress #roommatelife
- Post: Dealing with a difficult client today. Felt like I was walking on eggshells the entire meeting. Managed to get through it though! #worklife
- Comment: Sounds like you're walking on eggshells around your partner. Maybe couple's counseling could help? :/
Response Patterns
- Agreement/Sympathy: Yeah, I know the feeling. / That sounds stressful. / It's tough when you have to do that.
- Question: Why? What happened? / What's wrong with them?
- Advice (sometimes): Maybe you should talk to them directly? / Just try to avoid sensitive topics.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says they are walking on eggshells:
- Ask for the reason: What's making them so sensitive? or What are you afraid will happen if you upset them?
- Offer sympathy or relate a similar experience: That's exhausting. I had to do that with my old boss.
If someone describes a situation where they walked on eggshells:
- Ask about the outcome: Did you manage to avoid upsetting them? or How did the conversation go?
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually used to describe an ongoing or past situation, not to initiate a general conversation.
Intonation
- Emphasis often falls on eggshells.
- The tone is usually one of caution, stress, or weariness. I'm WALKing on EGGshells around him.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across most adult generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in most major English-speaking regions (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.).