step on (someone's) toes

idiom

US, informal

: to do something that upsets or offends (someone)

You might step on some important people's toes with this project.

Examples of step on (someone's) toes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Along with a willingness to step on toes, though, Shanahan would have to build trust with an unhappy workforce, as well regulators, suppliers, investors and a disgruntled public. —

Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 9 July 2024 Whereas a character like Aniq is conscious of everybody and really doesn't want to step on toes, Edwin Akufo wants every toe stepped on. —

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 July 2023 Perry had an incisive mind and was careful not to step on toes. —

Luke Broadwater Philip Montgomery, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2022 The Gladiators weren’t forcing silence or anything, Paintbrush was just fresh from the Contenders League with Mayhem University and didn’t want to step on toes. —

Sean Collins, Dallas News, 19 June 2020

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“Step on (someone's) toes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20on%20%28someone%27s%29%20toes. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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