'walking on egg shells' cliche

catian · 02-26-2012, 05:34 PM

could you get away with saying
walking on ice instead?
would you understand it in the same breath as walking on eggs?

dpaterso · 02-26-2012, 05:38 PM

I could be wrong, but I think the phrase is walking on eggshells, e.g. tread gently lest you break something or upset someone.

Walking on thin ice or skating on thin ice would also do, but it's also a bit of a cliché.

-Derek

alleycat · 02-26-2012, 05:55 PM

To me, walking on eggshells and walking on thin ice aren't quite the same thing.

I think of walking on eggshells as an attempt to not upset someone and walking on thin ice as being in a precarious position (and one where someone is very likely to fail if they're not careful).

Snick · 02-26-2012, 05:57 PM

I agree with dpaterso.

Which one would fit would depend on the situation and who was was saying it.

catian · 02-26-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpaterso

I could be wrong, but I think the phrase is walking on eggshells, e.g. tread gently lest you break something or upset someone.

Walking on thin ice or skating on thin ice would also do, but it's also a bit of a cliché.

-Derek

Thank you for the correction.

The same I guess as playing with fire.

catian · 02-26-2012, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alleycat

To me, walking on eggshells and walking on thin ice aren't quite the same thing.

I think of walking on eggshells as an attempt to not upset someone and walking on thin ice as being in a precarious position (and one where someone is very likely to fail if they're not careful).

Hey thank you.
I undestood them to be the same, but I see what you mean now.
They sound similar but means differently.
I guess walking on thin ice would similar to playing with fire.

HoneyBadger · 02-26-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catian

Hey thank you.
I undestood them to be the same, but I see what you mean now.
They sound similar but means differently.
I guess walking on thin ice would similar to playing with fire.

Sort of, but they wouldn't be used it the same context.

"Look, Ted. Enough with the attitude. You're on thin ice, young man."

vs

"I didn't worry when you started smoking pot, Ted, but heroin? You're playing with fire."

vs

Ted walked on eggshells around his mother. Leaving a dirty plate in the living room overnight could send her into hysterics, so no way could she find out about the dope.

When someone is walking on thin ice, they're pushing the limits, either their own or someone else's. When someone is playing with fire, they're doing something dangerous. When they're walking on eggshells, they're being very careful to not disrupt something or someone.

LynnKHollander · 02-26-2012, 07:51 PM

Most of your recent examples in English aren't so much cliches as they are idioms. Literal translations of idioms rarely are successful. Try for the sense of the phrase, and rephrase it, trying for the flavor rather than word for word. If you're going for an over-all comic effect, emulate Mark Twain in his translations into French and then back into English of the 'Celebrated Jumping Frog'.

catian · 02-26-2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoneyBadger

Sort of, but they wouldn't be used it the same context.

"Look, Ted. Enough with the attitude. You're on thin ice, young man."

vs

"I didn't worry when you started smoking pot, Ted, but heroin? You're playing with fire."

vs

Ted walked on eggshells around his mother. Leaving a dirty plate in the living room overnight could send her into hysterics, so no way could she find out about the dope.

When someone is walking on thin ice, they're pushing the limits, either their own or someone else's. When someone is playing with fire, they're doing something dangerous. When they're walking on eggshells, they're being very careful to not disrupt something or someone.

Hi thank you very much HoneyBadger this is absolutely great explanations.
It understand now.
Nuances in English are very far and few in betweens. It is incredible!

catian · 02-26-2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynnKHollander

Most of your recent examples in English aren't so much cliches as they are idioms. Literal translations of idioms rarely are successful. Try for the sense of the phrase, and rephrase it, trying for the flavor rather than word for word. If you're going for an over-all comic effect, emulate Mark Twain in his translations into French and then back into English of the 'Celebrated Jumping Frog'.

Hey Lynn thanks for the advice that is great!
I shall research Mark Twain

02-26-2012, 05:34 PM	#1
catian Learning to read more, post less Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: London, where the heart matters most Posts: 848	'walking on egg shells' cliche could you get away with saying walking on ice instead? would you understand it in the same breath as walking on eggs? __________________ ''as I gaze onto the stars, a light blushes pass through the skies, and comes to rest somewhere up far''----katian 'read the writer, hear them sing!' 'rien de perdu none de retrouve ainsi is la vie' 'an adjective can sustain an enormous deal over a word, call in the neutral for a dash of normal' 'the world must upgrade in mentality' Last edited by catian; 02-26-2012 at 06:39 PM.

02-26-2012, 05:38 PM	#2
dpaterso Darth Vader is my co-pilot SuperModerator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The land of cow pies Posts: 15,983	I could be wrong, but I think the phrase is walking on eggshells, e.g. tread gently lest you break something or upset someone. Walking on thin ice or skating on thin ice would also do, but it's also a bit of a cliché. -Derek __________________ Absolute Visions Anthology of Speculative Fiction 19 tales of magic, wonder and science. Last edited by dpaterso; 02-26-2012 at 05:56 PM. Reason: can't stop making typos

02-26-2012, 05:55 PM	#3
alleycat "Interesting." AW Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 51,464	To me, walking on eggshells and walking on thin ice aren't quite the same thing. I think of walking on eggshells as an attempt to not upset someone and walking on thin ice as being in a precarious position (and one where someone is very likely to fail if they're not careful). __________________ . “Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” --Mark Twain

02-26-2012, 07:51 PM	#8
LynnKHollander This space intentionally left blank Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 328	Most of your recent examples in English aren't so much cliches as they are idioms. Literal translations of idioms rarely are successful. Try for the sense of the phrase, and rephrase it, trying for the flavor rather than word for word. If you're going for an over-all comic effect, emulate Mark Twain in his translations into French and then back into English of the 'Celebrated Jumping Frog'. __________________ LynnKHollander ~~I don't care what current usage is: The Stag at eve has drank his fill is damn bad grammar.

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02-26-2012, 05:57 PM	#4
Snick Banned Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Havatoo Posts: 934	I agree with dpaterso. Which one would fit would depend on the situation and who was was saying it.