Meaning
To be extremely careful and cautious with one’s words or actions around someone, typically to avoid upsetting them or provoking a negative reaction.
It’s often used to describe tense relationships or unstable moods, where any misstep could trigger conflict or distress.
Origin
The image is of literally trying to walk across a floor covered in eggshells without cracking any of them — since eggshells are so thin and brittle, this would require exceptionally light, careful steps. The specific figure “tread on eggshells,” meaning to move or act cautiously, is documented in English from 1734, considerably predating the eggshell’s more general association with fragility and delicacy, which strengthened from around 1835 onward; the now more common variant “walk on eggshells” follows the same underlying image.
Examples
Ever since the argument, we’ve all been walking on eggshells around him.
She feels like she has to walk on eggshells with her boss.
The kids were walking on eggshells during their parents’ divorce.
A: Why is everyone so quiet? B: We’re walking on eggshells because he’s in a bad mood.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Walk on eggshells' mean?
To be extremely careful and cautious with one’s words or actions around someone, typically to avoid upsetting them or provoking a negative reaction.
It’s often used to describe tense relationships or unstable moods, where any misstep could trigger conflict or distress.