kid-glove
/'kidglʌv/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with people: Characterized by extreme care, delicacy, or tact, especially to avoid causing offense or distress. It implies handling a person or situation with the utmost gentleness and consideration, as if wearing delicate gloves.
Usage
The adjective "kid-glove" is used attributively, almost always before a noun, to describe an approach, manner, or treatment. It is a hyphenated compound. It is often used in the fixed phrase "kid-glove treatment."
Examples
- Adjective:
- The celebrity received kid-glove treatment from the hotel staff.
- The manager handled the sensitive layoffs with a kid-glove approach.
- The delicate negotiations required a kid-glove manner.
Advanced Usage
- "kid-glove treatment": This is the most common collocation. It refers to handling someone or something with exceptional care, caution, and indulgence, often implying preferential or overly gentle treatment.
- The fragile antique vase was given the kid-glove treatment during the move.
- The star player seems to get kid-glove treatment from the coach.
Variants and Related Words
- Kid gloves (noun phrase): Literally, gloves made from the soft leather of a young goat (kid). Figuratively, it means a very careful or tactful way of dealing with someone.
- You'll have to handle that client with kid gloves.
- Tactful (adj): Having or showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
- Delicate (adj): Requiring careful or sensitive handling.
- Diplomatic (adj): Using skill and tact in dealing with others.
Synonyms
- Tactful
- Delicate
- Gentle
- Diplomatic
- Considerate
- Circumspect
Antonyms
- Heavy-handed
- Clumsy
- Tactless
- Blunt
- Insensitive
Idioms and Phrases
- To handle/treat someone with kid gloves: To deal with someone very carefully and gently so as not to upset them.
- After the scandal, the press handled the politician with kid gloves.
Adjective
-
showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with people
-
by diplomatic conduct he avoided antagonizing anyone
-
a tactful way of correcting someone
-
the agency got the kid-glove treatment on Capitol Hill
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