Page 41 - Conversation 3

Examples

I can't believe he pitched your business idea. He doesn't care about treading on toes.

My mum is upset that you made my birthday cake. She does it every year, so she thinks you're
treading on her toes.

I want to start working on the budget, but I don't want to tread on the accountant's toes.

Jiaying
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we are learning the
expression ‘tread on someone's toes’, which is a way of saying someone has involved themselves
in something that is not their responsibility, which is annoying or upsetting. A similar expression
is 'step on someone's toes'.

Beth
And both are frequently used in relation to work and business because of the connection to
responsibility and tasks.

Jiaying
Note that the past of 'step' is regular, 'stepped', but the past of 'tread' is irregular, 'trod'.

Beth
So, last week, you trod on my toes.

Jiaying
Yes, and I've already apologised! Time to go. Bye!

Beth
Bye!