tread on someone's corns

verb

To hurt someone's feelings.

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Meanings

verbtread on someone's corns (third-person singular simple present treads on someone's corns, present participle treading on someone's corns, simple past trod on someone's corns or tread on someone's corns or treaded on someone's corns, past participle trod on someone's corns or tread on someone's corns or trodden on someone's corns or treaded on someone's corns)

present singular third person treads on someone's corns · participle present treading on someone's corns · past trod on someone's corns · past treaded on someone's corns · participle past trod on someone's corns · participle past trodden on someone's corns · participle past treaded on someone's corns

  1. UKinformalTo hurt someone's feelings.
Cite this entry
APA

tread on someone's corns. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tread%20on%20someone's%20corns

MLA

“tread on someone's corns.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tread%20on%20someone's%20corns. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tread on someone's corns,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tread%20on%20someone's%20corns.

Source: tread on someone's corns on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.