tread on someone's toes

verb

To offend someone.

Similar
step on someone's toes
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Meanings

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

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

  1. idiomaticTo offend someone.

    Synonyms: step on someone's toes

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tread, toes.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo offend someone.

Similar
step on someone's toes
Also see
step on someone's toes
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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