This guide will give you all of the knowledge you need on the phrase tread lightly, including its meaning, usage, origin, sentence examples, and more!
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Kevin
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February 19, 2021
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Common Questions
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What is the definition of tread lightly?
The idiom tread lightly means to speak, behave, or proceed carefully, particularly to avoid causing offense or upsetting anyone, according to Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary and Merriam-Webster English Dictionary. This expression is commonly used to warn others about an action they plan to take, or about another person’s mood, and advises the recipient to be tactful and delicate about these sensitive areas.
This expression is also commonly seen as “tread gently” or “tread carefully.” Any of these variations of “tread lightly” can be used interchangeably. If one is treading lightly, they are acting cautiously, gently, or with tact.
Tread lightly has grown in popularity since its use on the hit AMC series Breaking Bad. In season five episode nine of the series, the main character Walter White advises his brother-in-law Hank to “tread lightly.” Here, the phrase is used as a threat, but is veiled under telling Hank to be cautious about his investigation of the drug ring.
Actor Bryan Cranston, who plays the infamous Walter White, says it is his favorite line of the entire series, according to Mashable. Cranston loves how economical and deif the line is, and that he believes it sums up Walter’s entire personality. He is a careful person who isn’t afraid to get what he wants.
What is the origin of the phrase tread lightly?
The origin of the phrase tread lightly is unknown, but the most famous example dates back to the poem “Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” by W. B. Yeats on Poets.org. Yeats writes, as one of the most famous examples of all time:
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Here, Yeats uses the phrase metaphorically, begging the recipient not to tread on – and crush – his dreams.
According to Etymonline, the word tread comes from the Old English tredan, meaning “to step on, traverse, or trample.” This comes from the Proto-Germanic tred, which has roots meaning run, step, or walk. Using the word light to mean “not heavy” comes from the Old English leoht or leht, which mean “easy,” or “having little weight.”
How can tread lightly be used in a sentence?
Tread lightly is a common and popular phrase used in many different ways. Below are three examples of different scenarios in which the phrase tread lightly is appropriate.
In the first example, each student is having one on one meetings with their calculus teacher. Rachel and Daelin are in the same calculus class. Rachel has already had her meeting, and Daelin is about to enter the classroom for his.
Daelin: How did your meeting go?
Rachel: Awful. She yelled at me the whole time. Tread lightly with her today, she’s in a terrible mood.
Daelin: Yikes. Maybe I should pick up some flowers. Or a shield.
Rachel: Not a bad idea!
Here, Rachel uses the phrase tread lightly to tell Daelin to exercise caution when talking with their calculus teacher, because she is in a bad mood. In the next example, Louie and June are setting up camp. Louie steps on a stick and it breaks with a loud crack.
June: Tread lightly, Louie! A sound like that could attract a bear.
Louie: First of all, there are no bears in the campsite. Second of all, it’s noon.
June: Better safe than sorry!
Here, June uses the phrase tread lightly literally and figuratively. She is telling Louie to watch where he steps so he doesn’t create a loud noise that could attract a wild animal. She is also generally advising him to be cautious around the campsite.
In the last example, Maria is getting up the courage to ask her boss for a raise. She asks his previous assistant, Brian, for advice.
Maria: I’m not sure of the best tactic to use. I’ve been here for a while, but I don’t want to come off ungrateful.
Brian: I think the best course would be to tread lightly. Tell him how much you like working for him, flatter him a little, and gently bring up the idea of a raise. Talk about how much more you do now than when you started. That’s what I did.
Maria: Great idea. I’ll try that.
Here, Brian advises Maria to tread lightly when asking for a raise, implying that she should not barrel through her boss’ door demanding a higher salary, but have a gentle, calm conversation.
What are synonyms and antonyms for the phrase tread lightly?
There are many related words and phrases to tread lightly from different dictionary apps. Power Thesaurus lists a plethora of synonyms for tread lightly:
- Go carefully
- Proceed with caution
- Watch your step
- Be careful
- Exercise caution
- Proceed with care
- Watch yourself
- Walk on eggshells
- Beware
- Be wary
- Go easy
- Proceed delicately
- Be prudent
- Watch out
For antonyms, one must search for phrases that mean act boldly, and do not proceed quietly or cautiously.
- Go for it
- Be bold
- Go for broke
- Take a chance
- Skate on thin ice
- Cross the line
- Go beyond the pale
- Push it
- Toe the line
- Take a shot in the dark
- Take a risk
- Play with fire
- Stick one’s neck out
- Gamble
- Tread dangerously
- Roll the dice
Overall, the phrase tread lightly means to proceed, behave, or speak with caution and delicacy. It is often used to warn others of an action they are about to take, or a mood someone is in. This popular phrase was first made famous by poet W. B. Yeats, who used the variant “tread softly” in his poem “Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven.”
Sources:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tread%20lightly
- https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/tread-carefully-gently-lightly
- https://mashable.com/article/breaking-bad-bryan-cranston-quote/
- https://www.etymonline.com/word/tread
- https://www.etymonline.com/word/light#etymonline_v_9503
- https://poets.org/poem/aedh-wishes-cloths-heaven
- https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/he-wishes-cloths-heaven/#:~:text=I%20would%20spread%20the%20cloths,you%20tread%20on%20my%20dreams.
- https://www.powerthesaurus.org/tread_lightly/synonyms
