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On tiptoe or tiptoes

 
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nawee



Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 400

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2012 9:10 pm    Post subject: On tiptoe or tiptoes Reply with quote

Hello,

Is it "on tiptoe" or "on tiptoes"? Should it be the plural form? Doesn't it make more sense to be on the tips of the toeS to remain in that position?

Best regards,

Nawee
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SimpleEnglishBlogger



Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 50
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Nawee,

I'm surprised that your question has gone unanswered for so long!

It's always difficult to say what the correct expression is without context, but from you're asking, yes, I agree that you would probably say, "on my tiptoes".

Examples:

I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach the box of cookies. (You could also simply say "on my toes" here.)

When John came home late after a night of drinking, he tiptoed around the house to avoid waking up his wife.

"Tiptoe" in usually used as a verb.
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IanT



Joined: 13 Sep 2012
Posts: 340
Location: Spain

PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Both ok. Tiptoe does not suggest only one toe, it's just a variant.

Best wishes,
Ian
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