Meaning: To be very careful or quiet, usually because you don’t want to make someone angry.

Examples:

I’ve been walking on eggshells ever since we had that fight.

You’ve got to walk on eggshells when you’re around my dad. He gets angry easily.

I hate walking on eggshells – I’d rather just be direct.

Pop Quiz:

In which situation would you walk on eggshells?

A.  After you made a mistake at work.

B.  After you made an omelet.

C.  After you got home from a long trip.

To see the correct answer, click on “Continue reading”:

The correct answer is A. If you did something wrong at work, you’re probably very nervous about making another mistake or about making your boss angry. Which, in a nutshell, is what walking on eggshells means.