To act with extreme caution and vigilance, as if walking on thin ice, due to an awareness of potential danger or severe consequences; to be highly apprehensive and careful.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
Empress Ma of the Eastern Han Dynasty was a woman of great kindness and profound understanding of principles. She was particularly fond of Liu Da, who was born to Consort Jia. When Liu Da ascended the throne as Emperor Zhang of Han, he honored Empress Ma as Empress Dowager.
Despite his repeated offers to bestow official titles upon her brothers, Empress Ma consistently declined.
However, her nephew Ma Yu complained about not receiving more imperial favors. Observing this, Yang Zhong advised Ma Liao (Empress Ma's brother), using the metaphor that they were "facing a deep abyss and treading on thin ice," implying that they must exercise extreme caution in their conduct and should not indulge their son's desires, lest they invite disaster.