Idioms for tiptoe

    on tiptoe,
    1. on the tips of one's toes.
    2. expectant; eager: With Christmas coming, the children were on tiptoe.
    3. stealthily; cautiously: The concert had already begun, so he entered the back of the hall on tiptoe.

Origin of tiptoe

1350–1400; Middle English tiptoon (plural noun). See tip1, toe

Words nearby tiptoe

tippytoe, tipstaff, tipster, tipsy, tipsy cake, tiptoe, tiptop, tiptronic, tipu, tipu sahib, tipuna

British Dictionary definitions for on tiptoe

Idioms and Phrases with on tiptoe (1 of 2)

on tiptoe
1

Eagerly anticipating something, as in The children were on tiptoe before the birthday party. [Late 1500s]

2

Moving stealthily, warily, as in They went down the hall on tiptoe. [Mid-1700s] Both usages transfer standing on one's toes to a particular reason for doing so; def. 2 alludes to moving more quietly in this fashion.

Idioms and Phrases with on tiptoe (2 of 2)

tiptoe

see on tiptoe.