kid gloves, to handle/treat with

handle someone with kid gloves

Fig. to be very careful with a touchy person. Bill has become so sensitive. You really have to handle him with kid gloves. You don't have to handle me with kid gloves. I can take it.See also: glove, handle, kid

kid gloves, to handle/treat with

To deal with very gently. This term, dating from the nineteenth century, is an elaboration of the slightly earlier term to handle without gloves, meaning to treat harshly. Gloves made of kidskin, from the hide of a young goat, were known from the early eighteenth century on and were considered elegant finery, whence the transfer to delicate treatment.See also: handle, kid, treat