To be extremely cautious in one's words or actions to avoid upsetting someone or triggering a negative reaction.
This phrase dates to the 1930s and creates a vivid image of the delicate care needed to walk across fragile eggshells without breaking them. The metaphor perfectly captures the tension and careful attention required when dealing with sensitive people or volatile situations.
The phrase describes a genuinely exhausting psychological state - constantly monitoring one's behavior for potential triggers activates the same stress responses as being in physical danger. Therapists often use this phrase to help clients recognize unhealthy relationship dynamics where one person's emotional volatility controls everyone else's behavior.
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