tiptoe
/ˈtɪpˌtoʊ/
adverb
- On the tips of the toes; in a manner that involves walking or standing on the toes.
- She walked tiptoe across the cold bathroom floor.
- The cat moved tiptoe along the narrow fence.
- He crept tiptoe down the hallway so his roommate wouldn't hear him.
noun
- The tip or end of a toe; the position of standing or walking on the tips of the toes.
- She stood on tiptoe to reach the top shelf in the kitchen.
- He balanced on tiptoe for a moment before jumping into the pool.
- The little boy rose on tiptoe to see the parade over the crowd.
verb
- To walk quietly and carefully on the tips of one's toes, often to avoid making noise or being noticed.
- He tiptoed into the dark room, trying not to disturb the sleeping baby.
- The children tiptoe across the creaky wooden floor during hide-and-seek.
- She had to tiptoe past her parents' bedroom so she wouldn't wake them.
- To proceed cautiously or delicately in a situation, especially to avoid causing offense or trouble.
- The journalist tiptoed around the scandal, afraid of legal consequences.
- She tiptoes through her conversations with her strict grandmother, careful not to mention politics.
- In the meeting, everyone had to tiptoe around the sensitive topic of layoffs.