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Glite Dictionary
to step on toes

to step on toes

6 6.7
Offend someone by taking over work that belongs to them
  • phrasal verb
  • /stɛp ɑn toʊz/
  • Informal
translation icon : pisar los callos
  • As a new manager, I want to be careful not to step on toes within the existing team.
  • I didn't mean to step on your toes
  • I don't want to step on your toes

Not trying to step on toes, not trying to burn bridges.

Examples

  • "Watch him, ladies, or he'll step on your toes."

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Sorry if I stepped on your toes.

    Blog text (11)

  • So I'm not stepping on toes.

    The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

  • "I didn't mean to step on your toes.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • I don't step on toes, Littlejohn.

    Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)

  • I'm coming in at the eleventh hour, and I don't want to step on toes.

    Magic Mike XXL (2015)

  • I don't want to step on toes, but I believe my experience can help improve the project.

  • It's important to communicate openly so we don't accidentally step on toes in our collaboration.

Synonyms

to step on someone's toes
vsto step on toes
  • Informal
4 6.6

Make someone angry by doing their job or making decisions for them

omits the named person and states the action more generally
to poke one's nose into
vsto step on toes
  • Informal
1 7.3

To try to take part in other people's business without being asked

focuses on interference in official duties or authority that offends people
to stick one's nose into
vsto step on toes
  • UK
1 7.9

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

is about taking over duties without permission and so upsetting people

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

respect
∞ 1.0

Polite actions or words that show you value someone

How Offensive

to alienate
123 6.7
to offend
524 2.8
to step on toes
  • Informal
6 6.7
to bother
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

step on toes infinitive
stepped on toes past
stepped on toes past participle
stepping on toes present participle
steps on toes third person singular

Morphology

step + on + toe

The literal image of 'step on toes' (stepping on someone's toes) gives a clear clue about causing hurt or intrusion, so learners who know the constituents can often guess it involves offending or encroaching. However, the specific sense of interfering in someone's responsibility or authority is a metaphorical extension and not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrasal verb step on toes comes from the simple picture of standing too close and accidentally stepping on someone's toes, which hurts and makes them angry. So the phrase now means 'to offend or upset someone by interfering in their job or area of work'.