walking on eggs

To act or proceed with great care, caution, and consideration so as not to upset someone or trigger some imminent disaster. The littlest thing tends to anger my mother, so I feel like I have to walk on eggs whenever I'm at her house. You always have to walk on eggs when you talk to the media about the company, because they can end your career in a heartbeat if they feel like you're exposing their business practices to public scrutiny.

Acting or proceeding with great care, caution, and consideration so as not to upset someone or trigger some imminent disaster. I suggest walking on eggs if you plan to go after those lobbyists—they have the power and influence to do some serious damage to your career. The littlest thing tends to anger my mother, so I feel like I am walking on eggs whenever I'm at her house.

Being especially careful. Even more than tiptoeing, the image of walking so gingerly that you wouldn't crack eggs is especially apt, for example, in broaching a sensitive subject, as in “When I brought up the subject of her ex-marriage, I felt as though I was walking on eggs.”