Be skating/walking on thin ice In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "be skating/walking on thin ice", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Helen Nguyen

2020-12-20 11:12

Meaning of Be skating/walking on thin ice

Synonyms:

play with fire , stick your neck out

Be skating/walking on thin ice negative informal

"Walk" , "tred", or "stand" can be used instead of "skate" without changing the meaning. Besides that, you can also use only phrase "on thin ice" with the same meaning
You shouldn't have engaged in the scuffle. You're walking on thin ice.

When someone is skating on thin ice", they are doing something that may put themselves in danger or get into trouble.

He's skating on thin ice when his company is on the verge of bankruptcy.

If your mother know you steal her money, you're skating on thin ice.

Grammar and Usage of Be skating/walking on thin ice

Verb Forms

is skating on thin ice
was skating on thin ice
will be skating on thin ice

The verb "be" should be conjugated according to its tense.

Origin of Be skating/walking on thin ice

*When you're skating on thin ice, you may put yourself in danger because the ice could crack at any time (Image Source: rollsoffthetongue.tumblr.com)*

This idiom comes from Holland where skating was very well known and they were early colonizers in North America. "Skating on thin ice" is a common sense phrase making use of the verb. There was no doubt about the risk of skating on thin ice. Therefore, children were warned not to do that in Holland and all other countries where skating was popular. Metaphoric usage probably followed shortly thereafter.

The Origin Cited: rollsoffthetongue.tumblr.com .