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tread on

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

put your foot on something, or hurt someone's feelings

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

to put your foot on something accidentally or deliberately

"Be careful not to tread on the wet paint."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

to offend someone or interfere with their role, rights, or feelings

"I don't want to tread on anyone's toes by changing the plan."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Literal sense is common; figurative sense often appears in phrases like 'tread on someone's toes'.

Commonly used with

foot glass toes flowers rights feelings

Forms

Base
tread on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
treads on
he/she/it
Past simple
treaded on
yesterday
Past participle
treaded on
have + pp
-ing form
treading on
continuous

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Synonyms

step on walk on offend intrude on trample on

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