softly-softly

softly-softly

adjective Cautious, tentative, gradual, and careful, especially to an overbearing degree. (Also written "softly, softly.") I just wish his parents weren't so softly-softly with him all the time. The kid needs to learn how to be a bit more brazen and independent! I think we should take things a bit softly, softly at this stage in development.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • softly
  • softly, softly approach
  • softly-softly approach
  • tiptoe
  • on tiptoe
  • on tiptoe(s)
  • on tiptoe/tiptoes
  • as the day is long
  • bulletproof
  • carry a big stick
References in periodicals archive
"We will be using a softly-softly approach initially," he said.
The rest will have to be approached on a softly-softly basis, so as not unduly to antagonise nature lovers with no feel for horseracing.
Steve McClaren and David Beckham have agreed to take a softly-softly approach to the former England skipper's return to the international fold.
With the two main protagonists playing it softly-softly, it was left to the McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen to lead the way as he set a time of one minute 13.764 seconds for the 4.3-kilometre track.
The police's softly-softly approach - they call their patrols Operation Christian - seems to be paying dividends in Hillfields.
EVERTON manager David Moyes insists he will take a softly-softly approach with new signing Andy Van der Meyde despite his side's plight at the foot of the Premiership.
There are far too many do-gooders who treat these youths too softly and I blame them for the way all respect and decency has declinedInstead of meting out proper punishment like the birch, these criminals are pampered and often get more sympathy than the victims Thanks to the pathetic softly-softly approach, crime has become far too prevalent and, rather than pampering these yobs with luxurious prisons and PlayStations, we should be giving them the punishments they deserve
BLUE MURDER: For such a hard-hitting title, this is a surprisingly softly-softly crime drama.
Arch-hawk Sharon, who is desperate to mellow his tough image, believes the softly-softly approach of the Nobel prize winner could be vital in keeping alive the fragile peace talks with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
And she looks to have benefited from the softly-softly approach judged on her highly-promising second at Goodwood last month, keeping on well having been slightly chopped for speed three furlongs from home.
As Mr Cameron and ministers arrived in Beijing, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "I don't think we'll approach it by lecturing them." The softly-softly style echoes Mr Cameron's comments in an interview today in which he said he would raise the issue "with respect and mutual understanding".
The softly-softly approach to crime has gone far enough and prison sentences need to be increased with new prisons being built if necessary.
Eight more attendants will be recruited and all are being told to drop the "softly-softly" approach of the past year.
The Liverpudlians are edgier than a lot of the softly-softly sounds coming from the likes of Coldplay and Keane.
Gay rights have improved dramatically in the last 20 years due to a sensible, softly-softly campaigning approach by pressure groups, politicians, media etc.