watch your step

Meaning

This expression is a polite warning telling someone to walk carefully to avoid tripping, slipping, or falling. It can also be used metaphorically to warn someone to behave cautiously in a risky or sensitive social situation.

Examples

• Please watch your step when exiting the train, as there is a large gap.

  Please watch your step when exiting the train, as there is a large gap.

• Watch your step on those icy stairs; they haven't been salted yet.

  Watch your step on those icy stairs; they haven't been salted yet.

• You should watch your step around the boss today; he's in a terrible mood.

  You should watch your step around the boss today; he's in a terrible mood.

• The tour guide told us to watch our step as we entered the dark cave.

  The tour guide told us to watch our step as we entered the dark cave.

• Watch your step near the edge of the cliff; the ground is quite loose.

  Watch your step near the edge of the cliff; the ground is quite loose.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Look your step on the wet floor.

  ✓ Watch your step on the wet floor.

  The standard English idiom is "watch your step," not "look your step."

• ✗ You must watch your steps when walking here.

  ✓ You must watch your step when walking here.

  In this idiomatic phrase, the noun "step" remains singular, even though you are taking multiple physical steps.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The pavement is very uneven here, so please ___.

  💡 be careful where you walk

  Show answer

  watch your step

• ___ as you get off the boat; the deck is extremely slippery.

  💡 pay attention to where you are putting your feet

  Show answer

  Watch your step