take in a reef; act with discretion; proceed cautiously; watch steps; go undercover (Александр Рыжов); tread upon to tread lightly; act with caution; feel way; use a light touch (VLZ_58); take a conservative approach (The Oilers and Hurricanes took a conservative approach to the game and did not allow many clear-cut opportunities. VLZ_58); tread lightly; tread on eggs; play it safe (VLZ_58); play it close to the vest; play it safe; tread as on eggs; pussyfoot (to behave in a wary or timid way)

Игорь Миг

walk a careful line; proceed with caution

austral., jerg.

play it cool

dipl., inf.

pull a punch

fig.

feel one's way; tread carefully (You should tread carefully when buying tires because the right choice can affect their performance and how long they last. ART Vancouver)

idiom.

pussyfoot; dip a toe in the water (Вместо артикля может употребляться соответствующее притяжательное местоимение. VLZ_58); tread softly (There are cost overruns on the two projects that we are building in Denver, so we have to tread softly and learn from mistakes made in the past. ART Vancouver); watch one's step (to be careful, especially over one's own behaviour)

inf.

play it close to the vest (He likes to play it close to the vest. Val_Ships)

ingen., antic.

exercise care (напр. при выполнении какой-л. сложной работы)

jerg.

take it slow

makár.

act cautiously; proceed with caution; tread warily; tread as on eggs

polít.

tread the careful path (ssn)

действовать по отношению к кому-л., чему-л. осторожно

gen.