to tread carefully
6
3.9
- phrasal verb
:
andar con cuidado
- But we still have to tread carefully with the politicians.
- need to tread carefully
- tread carefully to avoid
I, I just think that treading carefully is what's important.
- I, I just think that treading carefully is what's important.
Examples
-
Thus, the conservatives are likely to tread carefully.
Academic text (2004) -
As far as relationships are concerned, tread carefully.
Blog text (2) -
I understand that, but we need to tread carefully.
-
But we have to tread carefully.
-
We need to tread carefully.
-
We must tread carefully here.
-
But one does need to tread carefully.
Fiction book (2002) -
Even then, governments must tread carefully.
Academic text (2007) -
Institutions, systems, and legislatures need to tread carefully when considering how to address the very real sticker shock that afflicts parents and students each year.
Academic text (2007) -
After hearing both sides of the argument, I decided to tread carefully in my response.
Synonyms
979
1.0
Take care to avoid danger or getting hurt
582
3.0
To be careful to avoid danger or trouble
168
1.8
To be careful to avoid danger
85
5.6
Be careful to avoid danger or upsetting someone
63
3.7
Be careful when you move and act to avoid danger and trouble
42
3.4
Choose a careful option to avoid risks
25
3.6
Do things to avoid harm or danger
10
6.7
To be very careful not to upset someone
9
5.6
To act carefully to avoid hurting feelings or making mistakes
8
6.0
Move slowly and carefully to avoid mistakes or accidents
To act very carefully in a difficult situation to avoid mistakes or offend people
Alert and ready to deal with danger or problems
Antonyms
How Careful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to act or proceed with great care' is directly derivable from combining 'tread' (to step or proceed) with 'carefully' (in a careful manner). This verb + adverb composition is compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Tread carefully comes from the simple image of tread meaning to step: imagine someone walking slowly and watching each step to avoid thin ice or hidden traps. So, it now means 'to act with great care', for example to avoid mistakes or offending people.