Tiptoeing

Tiptoeing is the act of walking quietly on the balls of one's feet with the heels raised off the ground, often done to avoid making noise or to move cautiously and subtly. It implies a sense of stealth, delicacy, or the intention to remain unnoticed. The action emphasizes a heightened awareness of the surrounding environment and a desire to minimize disturbance. It can also figuratively describe a cautious or tentative approach to a situation or subject, avoiding direct confrontation or open discussion, or to proceed cautiously through a difficult situation. The pace is naturally slow and deliberate.

Tiptoeing meaning with examples

• The children were tiptoeing down the hallway, attempting to sneak past their parents without being discovered, their little feet barely making a sound on the wooden floorboards. They were on a mission for a late night snack.
• With a smile the cat began tiptoeing through the garden towards a scurrying mouse, its movements slow and calculated as it stalked its prey.
• The politician began tiptoeing around the controversial topic, carefully choosing his words to avoid upsetting anyone in the audience. The subject could lose him his seat.
• After the argument, Sarah was tiptoeing around John, unsure of how to re-engage without causing further conflict or rekindling their disagreement. Her own words haunted her.