to skate over thin ice
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To take unnecessary risks, especially in conversation or argument; to touch on dangerous subjects very lightly.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to skate over thin ice” mean?
To take unnecessary risks, especially in conversation or argument; to touch on dangerous subjects very lightly.
Is “to skate over thin ice” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.