Handle with kid gloves
Meaning
To treat someone or something with extreme gentleness, sensitivity, and great care, as if it is very delicate or easily damaged.
Origin
Kid gloves, fashioned from the soft, supple skin of a young goat, were once the epitome of delicate refinement and high fashion, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. These luxurious accessories were notoriously thin and prone to tearing, demanding extraordinary care not just in their wearing, but also in their storage and handling. The very act of putting them on required a gentle touch, lest the delicate material snag or rip. Thus, the phrase emerged, drawing a vivid parallel between the fragile nature of these esteemed gloves and anything that required an equally meticulous, careful approach to avoid damage or offense.
Examples
- You need to handle our new client with kid gloves; they're quite particular about their needs.
- The antique vase was so fragile that she instructed the movers to handle it with kid gloves.