Tiptoe: meaning, definitions and examples
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tiptoe
[ ˈtɪptoʊ ]
walking quietly
To tiptoe means to walk quietly and carefully on one's toes, typically to avoid being heard or to not disturb someone. People often use this technique when trying to sneak up on someone or to move silently in a situation where noise could be disruptive. It can also refer to a cautious or secretive approach to a situation.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She had to tiptoe past the sleeping dog.
- He tiptoed into the room to surprise her.
- They tiptoed around the issue during the discussion.
quiet walking
A tiptoe is the act of walking on the tips of one's toes. This movement is often associated with stealth and caution. Additionally, tiptoes can refer to the position of a person standing on their toes, which involves raising the heels off the ground.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He walked on his tiptoes to reach the top shelf.
- The child stood on her tiptoes to get a better view.
- She moved about on tiptoes to avoid making noise.
Translations
Translations of the word "tiptoe" in other languages:
🇵🇹 andar na ponta dos pés
🇮🇳 नंगे पैर चलना
🇩🇪 auf Zehenspitzen gehen
🇮🇩 berjalan dengan jari kaki
🇺🇦 іти на носочках
🇵🇱 iść na palcach
🇯🇵 つま先立ちで歩く
🇫🇷 marcher sur la pointe des pieds
🇪🇸 caminar de puntillas
🇹🇷 parmak uçlarında yürümek
🇰🇷 발끝으로 걷다
🇸🇦 المشي على أطراف الأصابع
🇨🇿 chodit po špičkách
🇸🇰 chodiť na špičkách
🇨🇳 踮起脚走
🇸🇮 hoditi na prstih
🇮🇸 að ganga á tá
🇰🇿 саусақпен жүру
🇬🇪 გულზე სიარული
🇦🇿 barmaqların ucuyla getmək
🇲🇽 caminar de puntillas
Etymology
The term 'tiptoe' comes from the combination of 'tip', which refers to the end of something, particularly the ends of fingers or toes, and 'toe', which specifically denotes a digit of the foot. The use of 'tip' in this context signifies the act of utilizing the outermost and often most sensitive part of the toes to walk, emphasizing the stealthy or cautious manner of movement. The word has been in usage since the 14th century in the English language, reflecting the importance of stealth in various social and practical scenarios. Over time, 'tiptoe' has not only remained in common vernacular as a descriptive action but has also been used metaphorically to describe cautious approaches in various contexts of life.