Episode 301: Walking on Eggshells

This week Shauna and Dan tread upon eggs as they explore the modern version of this phrase, walking on eggshells. Bonus: Magical friendship eggs, Dan's sunscreen for the eyes, And Shauna's fear of trial by jury. Also, we are bringing back "sinistrously".

It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod

On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon!
patreon.com/bunnytrailspod

Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 301: Walking on Egg Shells
Record Date: November 1, 2025
Air Date: November 12, 2025

Intro

Shauna:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. 

I’m Shauna Harrison

Dan:
And I’m Dan Pugh

Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.

Opening Hook
You know how, when you get together with family over the holidays or at a reunion, there’s always that one temperamental relative? Most of the time they’re fine, but it only takes one comment to set them off into a political or religious rant, an endless sports debate, or just plain anger. We’ve all been there, and we’ve all seen it. Around that person, you can’t help but feel like you’re walking on eggshells.

Meaning
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to walk upon eggshells means:

Quote
to be extremely cautious in one's actions or words, esp. so as to avoid offending or angering others
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/eggshell_n?tab=meaning_and_use#5778367 

This phrase actually began in a different form, to tread upon eggs, which meant to walk warily as on delicate ground. This form eventually morphed into the version we know today. Since it was first, let’s start with “to tread upon eggs.” 

1737
The first time I could find it in print was in the 1737 book, The Works of Francis Rabelais, MD reviewed by John Ozell. Here is the passage:

Quote
…for he was as dry as a Red-herring, as lean as a Rake, and like a poor, lank, slender Cat, walk’d gingerly as if he had trod upon Eggs; so that by some one being admonished…
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Works_of_Francis_Rabelais_M_D/RetYAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22trod+upon+eggs%22&pg=PA126&printsec=frontcover 

In this example, the phrase is explained. This could mean the phrase was not well known or only well known in certain circles. Or it could just be the style of writing of the author not really be any indicator. Impossible to tell from just one source. 

1742
Here is another example, this time from The Life of the Right Honourable Francis North, Baron of Guilford, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, under Charles II. and King James II., written by Roger North, Esq. in 1742. This actually appears twice in the book. Here is the first:

Quote
His Lordship was not long come to Town, before he was summon’d to attend the House of Commons, to give an Account of what Discoveries, touching the Plot, had been made to him at Bristol. This gave him Occasion to ruminate all the whole Proceeding, to find if any Slip had been made (for he all along trod upon Eggs)…
End Quote

And the second:
Quote
In Trials of some Criminals, whose Cases proved very obscure, or doubtful; but never more puzzled than when a popular Cry was at the Heels of a Business; for then he had his Jury to deal with, and, if he did not tread upon Eggs, they could conclude sinistrously, and be apt to find against his Opinion.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Life_of_the_Right_Honourable_Francis/UW5UAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=trod+upon+egg&pg=PA127&printsec=frontcover

1779
Here’s another example, this time from the 1779 work Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces, by Benjamin Franklin. This was published during his time as the United States Minister to France.

Quote
It is pleasant, however, to see how lightly and tenderly you trip over these matters, as if you trod upon eggs.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Political_Miscellaneous_and_Philosophica/dYgfAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22trod+upon+eggs%22&pg=PA409&printsec=frontcover 

Sometime in the 1800s, the phrase began to turn into what we know today, walking on eggshells. 

1860
Here’s an example from the 1860 work, The Woman in White by William Wilkie Collins. The edition I found was published in Collection of British Authors, volume 525. In this passage, Count Fosco is speaking to Walter Hartright, the detective protagonist of the story, about a woman named Marian who they all believe to be a cunning and formidable person. 

Quote
With that woman for my friend, I would snap these fingers of mine at the world.  With that woman for my enemy, I, with all my brains and experience - I, Fosco, cunning as the devil himself, as you have told me a hundred times - I walk, in your English phrase, upon egg-shells!
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Woman_in_White/w-Le5A03SHQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=I+walk,+in+your+English+phrase,+upon+egg-shells&pg=PA353&printsec=frontcover

1899
This is from the 1899 play A Lion Among Ladies: A Comedy in Two Acts by William Francis Macy. In this scene, Ned is going to a party at Jack’s invitation with the intention of moving in on Jack’s crush. He tells this to Marion, who responds:

Quote
Oh, indeed! Suppose I should tell her that?

Oh, but you wouldn’t. However, I don’t know as I should care. She must be rather heartless, to say the least, to keep Jack walking on eggshells the way she has the past six months.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Lion_Among_Ladies/f90_AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22walking+on+eggshells%22&pg=PA9&printsec=frontcover 

1917
This is from In God’s Army by CC Martindale. It was published in 1917.

Quote
But Ignatius had more delicate work for him than revivals. Simon Rodriquez, one of the First Companions, provincial of Portugal, and high in favour at court, had to be removed. Borgia must carry the business through. This would have brought him into contact with the court which had refused his presence as major-domo. Francis would have been walking upon eggshells.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Anecdotes_ou_m%C3%A9moires_secrets_sur_la_co/3vkCAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=walking+on+eggshells&pg=RA1-PA51&printsec=frontcover

1950
Here’s an example . This is from a story called Tight Rope by Allison L. Burks as published in The Camas Hot Springs Exchange, a newspaper out of Montana, USA, dated October 5, 1950. Here is the passage:

Quote
Not that there was any reason why she shouldn’t feel safe. Only the whole situation was so strange. As if one were walking on eggshells or balancing on a tight rope. Mustn’t make a misstep.
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85053223/1950-10-05/ed-1/?sp=7&q=walking+on+eggshells&r=-0.069,0.528,0.574,0.219,0 

1962
Man Walking on Eggshells is a 1962 urban fiction novel by Herbert Simmons. It was re-released in 1997. Here is the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
First published in 1962, this novel is one of the most lyrical and authentic portraits of a jazz musician ever published. Born into violence, in the midst of a destructive tornado that flattens sections of East St. Louis, Raymond Douglas overcomes obstacles of family and race to become a jazz trumpeter whose music touches greatness.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Man_Walking_on_Eggshells/r2TQPNTBbAsC?hl=en&gbpv=0 

Before we move into our more modern uses, I just want to note that while researching this I came across a 1925 article regarding superstitions surrounding eggshells. I confess, I didn’t know any eggshell based superstitions, but now I’ve learned several. And you can too on our behind the scenes video, which airs every Friday on our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod.  And speaking of our Patrons, it is that time in the show where we say thank you!

A Quick Thank You
This episode is sponsored by our amazing Patrons on Patreon. And the cool thing about Patreon is it is 100% free to join the community! 

We have new things every weekday on the feeds. On Monday’s we have a conversation about what movies, shows, books, podcasts and whatever else everyone is enjoying, Tuesdays see early access to the week's podcast, Wednesdays have all the links, books, songs, and other content mentioned in the week's episode, Thursday has patron’s only polls, and Friday’s are our lightly-edited behind the scenes video featuring all the cut content, goofs, and bonus facts you could imagine.

We’ve got some other pretty cool stuff, too, like Original Digital Artwork once a month, made by Shauna, and direct access to talk with us. No algorithm’s getting in the way of what we see or don’t see. Plus, you can get awesome name recognition like Pat Rowe does every episode. And our top spot is currently occupied by the amazing Mary Halsig Lopez

You can join the Bunny Trails community for free at bunny trails pod on Patreon. 

That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod 


Modern Uses

1998
Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care About Has Borderline Personality Disorder is a 1998 self-help book by Paul T. Mason and Randi Kreger. Here’s the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
Guide for family and friends of those with borderline personality disorder. Designed to help them understand how the disorder affects their loved ones and recognize what they can do to establish personal limits and enforce boundaries, communicate more effectively, and take care of themselves.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Stop_Walking_on_Eggshells/PJXvqRRkDFkC?hl=en&gbpv=0 

2013
Here’s a song, Walking on Eggshells by Esthero. This is off the 2013 album Everything is Expensive. Here are some of the lyrics:

Quote
Walk up with the morning sun
Can’t stand the pouring
And the sun of the rain on the window out
Not one for ones
And you say “hey, girl, where you’re going?”
You’re standing on the edge, don’t look down, now
Watch your step now
You’re changing your direction
Can’t stand the state I’m in
Can’t stand the pain you give
It’s like I’m walking on eggshells
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF11LZwrBT0 

2016
Walking on Eggshells is a song by The Honey Pot off the 2016 album Inside the Whale. This song has a definite psychedelic style to it. Here are some of the lyrics:

Quote
Lost in a silence
Distance healed some of the wounds you inflicted inside
Don’t try to tell me you were lonely
There was always a number to ring from the list of women waiting for you
Cloaked in your shadow
Walking on eggshells I tiptoed away from your side
Longing for sunshine
For light to shine deep in the murkiest corners of life
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E25qgg7D7lU 

2018
Walking On Eggshells is a short informational video on the Mumsnet youtube page. Mumsnet is an internet forum that was created in 2000 for parents to connect with other parents. Here is the description of this 2018 video. 

Quote
Coercive control is domestic abuse. Controlling or coercive behaviour was criminalised in 2015 - but it still affects hundreds of thousands of women in the UK.

Mumsnet, Women's Aid and Surrey Police have joined together to help raise awareness of the dangers of coercive control.
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC1pCi-GwGU

The phrase being used here really matches a style that started in the 1990s of referring to physical and emotional violence against people you know or are close to. The phrase is ubiquitous - everywhere - in books about domestic abuse. Which makes sense because the phrase really captures the way people act around someone who can turn angry or violent in a moment’s notice. The phrase is also frequently used when talking about those with narcissistic tendencies. 

2019
Walking on eggshells is a 2019 sculpture by Esther Levy of Spain. It merges conceptual, modern, and surrealist styles in this humorous work. Esther is “A polymathic creative artist recognized in New York, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv and Barcelona for a wide range of overlapping creative pursuits, straddling the worlds of luxury fashion, design, journalism and art.” 

Here is a synopsis for this sculpture from Saatchi Art listing:

Quote
¨Walking on eggshells¨ belongs to a series of sculptures that focus on feelings. How do you feel?
There are moments when you feel you have no choice but to step over and stumble through the fragility of egg shells, risking your heels. It's that delicate situation that requires the ability to move on, without offending anyone. Oops!

The two sided painting offers another conversation piece. Behind, (left in the past,) is an original oil portrait of an ugly woman. It was given to me as a birthday present in a non-sophisticated dinner party I offered where only rags & recycled gifts where suggested, Carmen found the painting on the street and decided it was the perfect recycled gift, It definitely won most original !
Yet the painting was dark, creepy and heavy! Once dragged home, I decided to respect her past behind, turn it around and think forward, move on.
So I made use of it, backwards. with 4 egg boxes, and 26 sculpted eggs, one of them broken with the pressure of a heel, unveiling the yoke. Recreating an uneven pair moment. Framed in its original recycled antique Baroque wooden frame.
End Quote
https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Sculpture-Walking-on-eggshells/1598643/7763398/view

2023
Walking on Eggshells is a 2023 comedy short from Student Cable Television at University of California Santa Cruz. You can watch it on archive.org. Which I did. It was about 12 minutes. Here is the official synopsis first:

Quote
Two lifelong friends discover a magical carton of eggs that exposes the cracks in their friendship.
End Quote
https://archive.org/details/stuctvca-Walking_on_Eggshells 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31614721/ 

So these two roommates find a dozen eggs in the fridge and when they crack them, spooky things happen, including clothes switching and talking eggs. It serves as a medium for the two roommates to work through some pent up anger. It looks like it was a college project. It was silly and fun. 

Wrap Up
I really like how evocative this phrase is. Whenever I say or hear it, I instantly picture someone carefully tiptoeing across a floor covered in eggs, trying not to crack any. It paints a vivid image in my head. But I hate why the phrase exists in the first place. I don’t like that people actually feel like they have to “walk on eggshells.” Whether it’s because of self-doubt, fear, or even abuse, I just wish people could feel safe and comfortable being themselves—without having to constantly worry about how others might react. Maybe the best thing we can do is just try to be more accepting of each other, so no one feels like they have to tiptoe through life.

Dan:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, 
reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or comment on our website bunnytrailspod.com

Shauna:
It’s poll time!

Recently, we posed this question to our patrons, how do you protect your eyes when out in the sun?

Most of our Patrons wear sunglasses, either as separate glasses or built into the lens of their daily glasses. A few also wear a hat. But regardless of the methods, we are happy that everyone does at least something to protect their eyes.

Allan says
Quote
I always wear contact lenses. They have UV protection built in, but I also wear my polarized sunglasses whenever I go out.
End Quote

Dan:
I have safety sunglasses that I wear as my regular sunglasses. And I almost always have a hat on when I spend time outside. I spent over 20 years as a bald man so it is a habit for me. These days I have hair but it is thinning. I also wear clothes with UV protection when I'm going to be out in the sun. And of course, sunscreen, though you can still burn with sunscreen, hence the other steps I take!

Shauna:
Dustin adds:
Quote
Sunglasses and staying indoors. Sunscreen does not work. I repeat, sunscreen does not work.
End Quote

I’m allergic to the sun… in a real way, not just as a joke. Though it is a little funny. So I generally avoid the sun… however, I can’t entirely avoid going outside. I wear a hat if I’ll be outside more than a few minutes. My contacts actually have a cool filtering effect. 

As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!

Outro 

Shauna:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember, 

Together:
Words belong to their users.