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
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.
Running in a state Donald Trump carried, Gallego didn't try to tiptoe around culture wars or triangulate. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 2025 Charlotte City Council District 3 candidates tiptoe around controversy Candidates avoided talk about scandals surrounding two of three remaining Democratic hopefuls during Tuesday’s forum. Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2025 Gone are the days of tiptoeing around rakes, shovels, and brooms scattered around the floor. Ali Faccenda, People.com, 24 July 2025 Pastors must feel free to speak truthfully, not tiptoe around topics that matter deeply to their congregation. Lauren Cooley, Sun Sentinel, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tiptoe around

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tiptoe around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiptoe%20around. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!