tiptoe around
phrasal verb
tiptoed around; tiptoeing around; tiptoes around
: to avoid talking about (something) : to talk about (something) only in an indirect way
They tiptoed around the subject of her poor health.
Examples of tiptoe around in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The show has spent its entire fourth season tiptoeing around Sydney’s covert job offer, Carmy’s partnership alterations, and whatever was going on inside Richie’s GoFastBoatsMojito brain, but in one big, 30-odd-minute bottle episode, it’s all been laid on the table.
—
Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 June 2025
In this turmoil, instead of resolving issues, both partners begin to tiptoe around each other.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Those days of tiptoeing around Trump, and avoiding head-to-head conflict, are over.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Partners don’t fear conflict or tiptoe around hard feelings.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tiptoe around
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 June 2025
In this turmoil, instead of resolving issues, both partners begin to tiptoe around each other.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Those days of tiptoeing around Trump, and avoiding head-to-head conflict, are over.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Partners don’t fear conflict or tiptoe around hard feelings.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tiptoe around
Cite this Entry
“Tiptoe around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiptoe%20around. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share