What it means
Means you’re in a dodgy, precarious spot where another mistake could get you in serious trouble, like you’re one crack away from going under. Often used about jobs, relationships, or being in the boss’s bad books. It’s not niche slang, just a classic metaphor everyone gets, and it lands as a warning to tread carefully.
Usage examples
"After I hit Reply All and called the report rubbish, I’m on thin ice with management. One more mess-up and I’m out the door."
"After turning up late twice, he's on thin ice with the manager now."
"Miss another deadline and you’re on thin ice, mate. The boss is already looking at you sideways."
"He’s on thin ice after nicking Dan’s idea in the meeting, so now he’s doing that extra-nice office apology routine."
"You’re on thin ice with your mum after that stunt, so maybe don’t roll in at 2am acting brave."
Where it comes from
This one’s a proper old English idiom. It grows out of the very literal danger of standing or skating on ice that might crack under you. It’s been in use for centuries, and the image stuck because it says the whole thing in one go: you’re not sunk yet, but one bad move and splash, trouble.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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