On thin ice

Business English | B2

If someone is on thin ice, it means they are in a risky or precarious situation where one wrong move could lead to serious trouble or negative consequences.

We use this idiom when someone’s position is vulnerable – perhaps they’ve made mistakes and are close to facing punishment, or they’re dealing with a delicate situation that could easily go wrong. The image comes from walking on ice that’s too thin – one more step and you could fall through the ice.

e.g. You’re on thin ice with the boss after missing that deadline – I’d be very careful if I were you.

e.g. The company is on thin ice financially and may not survive another bad quarter.

e.g. I know I’m on thin ice here, but I really think we need to reconsider this decision.