on thin ice
/ɒn ˌθɪn ˈaɪs/NEUTRAL · B2
Meaning
in a risky position where trouble could easily follow
Examples
- 1You've been late three times this week, so you're on thin ice with the manager.
- 2Leo knew he was skating on thin ice when he copied his friend's homework.
- 3After forgetting both his wife's birthday and their anniversary, Tom is on thin ice at home.
- 4The restaurant is on thin ice: one more bad hygiene report and it will be closed.
- 5Is it wise to criticise the head teacher in front of the parents? You'd be on thin ice.
Grammar
Usually after be, skate or walk, often in be skating on thin ice. The phrase itself does not change.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about weather
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →it never rains but it poursbad things tend to happen all at the same timeblow hot and coldto keep changing your attitude towards somethingmake heavy weather ofto treat an easy task as more difficult than it isa fair-weather friendsomeone who is loyal only when things are going wellin the cold light of daylater, when you can think about something calmlyunder the weatherfeeling slightly ill
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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