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

Take a break from tiptoeing around them and just stand up to ask them what's on their mind! —Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2024

Wray’s response tiptoed around the question but provided a rare insight into how the FBI has used location data to surveil Americans without any court oversight. —Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2023

The governor has also tiptoed around slamming Trump, who remains well-liked among most Bluegrass State voters. —Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, 8 Jan. 2024

There’s no room to pity the gazelles who must tiptoe around him. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 Dec. 2023

But after months in which the candidates mostly appeared to tiptoe around Trump, the attacks have sharpened, most notably with two new entrants — former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023

Refusing to tiptoe around her is an appropriate course of action regardless. —Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023

Conversation, sometimes playful, tiptoed around the tragedy. —Anumita Kaur, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2023

NBCUniversal parent Comcast tiptoes around strike amid profit gains. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023