Reverse Dictionary: CARE

ADVERBS
► ACCURATELY carefully → 1632 obs.
► ADVISEDLY carefully, attentively, with watchfulness or attention; warily, circumspectly → 1375 obs.
► BUSILY carefully, heedfully; attentively, intently → c1225 obs.
► DEARLY carefully → c1400 obs.
► GRADELY decently, orderly; properly, excellently; carefully, cautiously → 1869 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► HANDSOMELY carefully; without haste, gently, gradually → 1550 obs., nautical usage
► HOWFULLY carefully, anxiously → 1565 obs.
► NAMELY carefully, precisely → a1400-50 obs.
► NARROW carefully, closely, keenly → a900 obs.
► NEARLY carefully, with close inspection or scrutiny → 1540
► NEEDLY carefully, zealously; earnestly → c900 obs.
► SAWFLY carefully, tenderly → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SINCERELY carefully, without injury → 1607 obs.
► TENTILY carefully, heedfully, cautiously → 1874 Sc.
► TENTLY carefully → 1853 Sc.
► TENTY carefully, attentively; cautiously → 1785 Sc.
► VREACH carefully, diligently, earnestly, actively → 1746 Eng. dial.

INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
► CARE KILLED THE CAT care will kill anyone even though he had, like the proverbial cat, nine lives → 1562
► CARE NOT A QUINCH care not the least → 1571 obs.
► COULD CARE LESS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1966 US
► COULDN’T CARE LESS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1946
► DON’T GIVE A BUGGER don’t care at all, an indication of indifference → 1960s Aust. sl.
► DON’T GIVE A FLYING FUCK don’t care at all → 1993 sl. (Bk.)
► DON’T GIVE A FRENCH-FRIED-FUCK don’t care at all → 1993 sl. (Bk.)
► DON’T GIVE A RIP don’t really care at all → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► EASY DOES IT! careful! go easy! take your time! → L19 sl.
► I SHOULD WORRY I don’t care; it’s no concern of mine → 1912 Amer. dial.
► JIGGEROO! a warning to be careful or escape → 1919 Amer. tramps’ sl. (Bk.))
► MIND OUT! be careful! → 1886 Brit. sl.
► MIND YOUR EYE! be careful, watch out → 1766
► MIND YOUR EYE, JUDGE be careful → World War I Amer. sl.
► NO HAIR OFF MY BROWS it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 20C sl.
► NO SKIN OFF MY ASS it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 1926 UK
► NO SKIN OFF MY BACK it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 20C sl.
► NO SKIN OFF MY EAR it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 1926 UK
► NO SKIN OFF MY ELBOW it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 20C sl.
► NO SKIN OFF MY HIDE it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 20C sl.
► NO SKIN OFF MY KNUCKLES it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 20C sl.
► NO SKIN OFF MY NOSE it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 1926 UK
► NO SKIN OFF MY TEETH it makes no difference to me; I don’t care because it won’t affect me → 20C sl.
► NOT BE FUSSED to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1988 Brit.
► NOT CARE A BEAN to not care at all → 1857 sl.
► NOT CARE A BLACK DAMN not care at all → 1986 sl.
► NOT CARE A BLAST to not care at all → 1944 sl.
► NOT CARE A BLOW to not care at all → 1879 sl.
► NOT CARE A BRASS FARTHING to not care at all → 1864 sl.
► NOT CARE A BUGGER to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1922 Brit.
► NOT CARE A BUTTON to not care at all → 1787 sl.
► NOT CARE A CAT-HARN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1911 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A CENT to not care at all → 1815 sl.
► NOT CARE A CHEW OF TOBACCO to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1804 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A CHIP to not care at all → 1780 sl.
► NOT CARE A CONTINENTAL to not care at all → 1872 sl.
► NOT CARE A COPPER to not care at all → 1837 sl.
► NOT CARE A CURSE to not care at all → 1749 sl.
► NOT CARE A CUSS to not care at all → 1843 sl.
► NOT CARE A DAMN to not care at all → 1759
► NOT CARE A DASH to not care at all → 1908 sl.
► NOT CARE A DODKIN to not care at all → 1628 sl.
► NOT CARE A DOIT to not care at all → 1695 sl.
► NOT CARE A DOODLE to not care at all → 1956 sl.
► NOT CARE A DOT to not care at all → 1870 sl.
► NOT CARE A DUMP to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1843 colloq.
► NOT CARE A FART to not care at all → 1562 sl.
► NOT CARE A FARTHING to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1695
► NOT CARE A FARTHING DIP to not care at all → 1914 sl.
► NOT CARE A FIDDLER’S FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1930s sl., orig. US
► NOT CARE A FIG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1880
► NOT CARE A FLIP not care at all → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A FLY to not care at all → 1386 sl.
► NOT CARE A FOUTER to not care at all → 1871 sl.
► NOT CARE A FRIG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1955
► NOT CARE A FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT CARE A GROAT to not care at all → 1550 sl.
► NOT CARE A HAIR to not care at all → 1890 sl.
► NOT CARE A HALFPENNY to not care at all → 1865 sl.
► NOT CARE A HANG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1861, ‘hang’ a euphemism for ‘damn’
► NOT CARE A HANNAH COOK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1895 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A HOOT to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1925
► NOT CARE A JACKSTRAW to not care at all → 1909
► NOT CARE A JOT to not care at all → 1628 sl.
► NOT CARE A LOUSE to not care at all → 1550 sl.
► NOT CARE A MAG to not care at all → 1830 sl.
► NOT CARE A MIGHT to not care at all → 1485 sl.
► NOT CARE A MONKEY’S ASS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1978 Amer. sl.
► NOT CARE A MONKEY’S FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → c1920 Amer. sl., esp. naval usage
► NOT CARE A MONKEY’S TOSS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1960 Brit.
► NOT CARE AN ACE to not care at all → 1656 sl.
► NOT CARE AN ITEM to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1902 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NOT CARE A PEASE to not care at all → 1569 sl.
► NOT CARE A PIG’S WHISTLE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1935 US
► NOT CARE A PIN to not care at all → 1540 sl.
► NOT CARE A PINCH OF SNUFF to not care at all → 1781 sl.
► NOT CARE A PIN’S HEAD to not care at all → 1874 sl.
► NOT CARE A PIN’S POINT to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → Bk1894
► NOT CARE A PREEN to not care at all → 1909 sl.
► NOT CARE A QUINCH to not care at all → 1567 sl.
► NOT CARE A RAG to not care at all → 1934 sl.
► NOT CARE A RAP to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1834
► NOT CARE A RAT”S ARSE not care at all → 1996 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► NOT CARE A ROW OF BEANS to not care at all → 1950 sl.
► NOT CARE A ROW OF BRASS PINS to not care at all → 1908 sl.
► NOT CARE A RUSH to care very little → 1543
► NOT CARE A RYE STRAW FOR to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1828 US
► NOT CARE A SIXPENCE to not care at all → 1783 sl.
► NOT CARE A SNUFF to not care at all → 1875 sl.
► NOT CARE A SOD to not care at all → 1958 sl.
► NOT CARE A SOU to not care at all → 1730 sl.
► NOT CARE A SPLINTER to not care at all → 1830 sl.
► NOT CARE A STIVER to not care at all → 1892 sl.
► NOT CARE A STRAW to not care at all → 1533
► NOT CARE A STUFF to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1974 chiefly Aust. & NZ
► NOT CARE A THIN DIME to not care at all → 1933 sl.
► NOT CARE A THRIP to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1909 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A THRUM to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1809 Sc.
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S CUSS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1824
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S DAMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1824
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S CURSE to not care at all → 1865 sl.
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S CUSS to not care at all → 1845 sl.
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S FART not care at all → 1952 sl.
► NOT CARE A TINKER’S TOSS not care at all → 2004 sl.
► NOT CARE A TOSS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1876
► NOT CARE A TRANEEN to not care at all → 1833 sl.
► NOT CARE A TUPPENNY DAMN not care at all → 1939 sl.
► NOT CARE A TUPPENNY HANG ► NOT CARE A TWOPENNY HANG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1887 Brit.
► NOT CARE A TURD to not care at all → 1538 sl.
► NOT CARE A TWOPENNY DAMN ► NOT CARE A TYPPENNY DAMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1887 Brit.
► NOT CARE A TWOPENNY DIP to not care at all → 1922 sl.
► NOT CARE A WHIPSTITCH to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1951 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A WHIT to not care at all → 1840 sl.
► NOT CARE A WHOOP to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1893 Amer. dial.
► NOT CARE A ZEBRA’S TURD to not care at all → 1943 sl.
► NOT CARE FIVE FARTHINGS to not care at all → 1859 sl.
► NOT CARE THREE SKIPS OF A LOUSE to not care at all → 1633 sl.
► NOT CARE THREE STRAWS to not care at all → 1794
► NOT CARE THREE THRAWNEENS to not care at all → 1845 sl.
► NOT CARE TUPPENCE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → a1744 sl.
► NOT CARE TWO CENTS to not care at all → 1865 sl.
► NOT CARE TWO CHIPS to not care at all → 1610 sl.
► NOT CARE TWO HOOTS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1925
► NOT CARE TWOPENCE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → a1744 sl.
► NOT CARE TWO SHITS not care at all → 1976 sl.
► NOT CARE TWO STRAWS to not care at all → 1540
► NOT CARE WHETHER SCHOOL KEEPS OR NOT to not care what happens; to go one’s own way → 1852 Amer. dial.
► NOT GIVE A 4X not care at all → 1999 sl.
► NOT GIVE A BLACK DAMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → L18 sl.
► NOT GIVE A BUGGER to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1922 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A CAHOOT to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1970 Amer. dial.
► NOT GIVE A COCKEYED FUCK not care at all → 1967 sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A COLD FART to not care at all → 1966 sl.
► NOT GIVE A CRAP not care at all → 1963 sl.
► NOT GIVE A D to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → L18 sl.
► NOT GIVE A DAB OF WOMBAT SHIT not care at all → 1983 sl.
► NOT GIVE A DAMN ► NOT GIVE A DARN ► NOT GIVE A DERN ► NOT GIVE A DOMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1760
► NOT GIVE A DIME A DOZEN to not care at all → 1918 sl.
► NOT GIVE A DOGGONE not care at all → 1920 sl.
► NOT GIVE A DOODLEYDAMN not care at all → 1958 sl.
► NOT GIVE A DRAT to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → L18 sl.
► NOT GIVE A DURN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → L18 sl.
► NOT GIVE A FART to not care at all → 1619 sl.
► NOT GIVE A FAST-DAY FART to not care at all → 1953 sl.
► NOT GIVE A FAT FUCK not care at all → 1987 sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A FAT RAT’S ASS not care at all → 1974 sl.
► NOT GIVE A FIDDLER’S FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1930s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A FIDDLER’S SCREW IN HELL to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1930s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A FLYING FIDDLER’S MICKEY to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1930s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A FLYING FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A FLYING SIDEWAYS SHITE not care at all → 2000 sl.
► NOT GIVE A FRIG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1955
► NOT GIVE A FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A GODDAM to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE A GOD’S CURSE to not care at all → 1925 sl.
► NOT GIVE A GOOD DAMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE A GOOD DOGGONE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE A GOOD FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A GOOD GODDAM to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE A GOOD GODDURN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE A GREASED GODDAM to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE A HANG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1861, ‘hang’ a euphemism for ‘damn’
► NOT GIVE A HEALTHY CRAP not care at all → 1949 sl.
► NOT GIVE A HOOT to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1925
► NOT GIVE A HOOT IN HELL to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → L19 sl.
► NOT GIVE A HURRAH not care at all → 1922 sl.
► NOT GIVE A KICK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NOT GIVE A KITTY not care at all → 1925 sl.
► NOT GIVE A LARGE RAT’S ASS not care at all → 1961 sl.
► NOT GIVE A LIVING SHIT not care at all → 1971 sl.
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S TIT to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1979 Amer. sl.
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S TOSS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1960 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S FART to not care at all → 1966 sl.
► NOT GIVE A MONKEY’S FUCK not care at all → 1974 sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A MOTHERFUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A PINCH OF DRIED OUT SHIT not care at all → 1975 sl.
► NOT GIVE A PINCH OF SHIT not care at all → 1954 sl.
► NOT GIVE A PISS not care at all → 1994 sl.
► NOT GIVE A RAP to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1834
► NOT GIVE A RASSCLOT not care at all → 1954 sl.
► NOT GIVE A RATFUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A RAT’S ARSE ► NOT GIVE A RAT’S ASS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1953 sl.
► NOT GIVE A RAT’S FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A RAT’S TEE HEINY HOO to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 2009 Amer. dial.
► NOT GIVE A RAT’S FART not care at all → 1976 sl.
► NOT GIVE A RAT’S FUCK not care at all → 2002 sl.
► NOT GIVE A RAT’S RING not care at all → 2004 sl.
► NOT GIVE A RED FUCK to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A RIP not care at all → 1910 sl.
► NOT GIVE A ROARING FUCK not care at all → 1961 sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A ROYAL FUCK not care at all → 1978 sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE A RUSH to not care at all → 1598 sl.
► NOT GIVE A SHIT ► NOT GIVE A SHITE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1922
► NOT GIVE A SHIZZLE to be indifferent or not care → 2006 African-American sl.
► NOT GIVE A SINGLE LUMP OF CAT’S SHIT not care at all → 1959 sl.
► NOT GIVE A SOD to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1961 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A SQUIRREL’S BUTT not care at all → 2007 sl.
► NOT GIVE A STRAW to not care at all → 1533
► NOT GIVE A STUFF to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1974 chiefly Aust. & NZ
► NOT GIVE A SUGAR not care at all → 1996 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TEN CENT PIECE to not care at all → 1918 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TIN SHIT not care at all → 1983 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S CURSE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S CUSS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TINKER’S DAMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1824
► NOT GIVE A TOOT not care at all → 1961 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TOOTLE not care at all → 1988 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TOSS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1876
► NOT GIVE A TUPPENNY CUSS not care at all → 1954 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TUPPENNY DAMN ► NOT GIVE A TWOPENNY DAMN to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1887 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A TUPPENNY FART to not care at all → 1962 sl.
► NOT GIVE A TUPPENNY HANG ► NOT GIVE A TWOPENNY HANG to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1887 Brit.
► NOT GIVE A WHOOP to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NOT GIVE A WHOOP IN HELL not care at all → 1970 US sl.
► NOT GIVE THREE HURRAHS IN HADES not care at all → 1896 sl.
► NOT GIVE TUPPENCE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → a1744 sl.
► NOT GIVE TWO BUGGERS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1920s sl.
► NOT GIVE TWO FARTS to not care at all → 1961 sl.
► NOT GIVE TWO FUCKS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1910s sl., orig. US
► NOT GIVE TWO HOOTS to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → 1925
► NOT GIVE TWOPENCE to not care at all; to be indifferent to something → a1744 sl.
► NOT GIVE TWO TUPPENNY TURDS not care at all → 1955 sl.
► NOT MIND A RUSH to not care at all → 1759 sl.
► NOT SET A STRAW to not care at all → 1568
► NOT TO CARE A ROPE’S END FOR to care nothing about → 1710
► TAKE IT SLOW be careful → 1930s sl., orig. African-American
► TOCH ENO! take care! look out! → M19 back-slang for ‘hot one’
► WATCH IT! be careful! → 1916
► WATCH THAT STUFF be careful → 1947 Amer. sl. (Bk.)

NOUNS
► ACCURANCE a taking care, care, solicitude → 1677 obs.
► ADVIGILANCY care, watchfulness, vigilance → 1577-87 obs.
► BUSINESS 1. care, anxiety, solicitude; distress, uneasiness → a1000 obs.
2. care, attention, observance → a1398 obs.
► CARE-AWAY something that drives away care → 1633
► CARK care, heed, pains → 1482 obs.
► CURE care, anxiety, trouble → a1340 obs.
► CURIOSITY carefulness; the application of care or attention → c1430 obs.
► FIKE trouble, care, worry, vexation → 1870 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► KEEP care, attention, heed, notice → c1250 obs.
► LICK AND A PROMISE scant care or attention → 1913 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► PERADVERTENCE thorough carefulness or attention → 1529 obs.
► Q.T. proper care and attention (Quality Time) → 1990s US sl.
► SITE care or sorrow; grief, trouble of any kind → c1200 obs.
► SYTE care, solicitude → 1930
► TENDANCE care, attention → 1902 Eng. dial.
► TENT care, heed → 1785 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► THOUGHT care, grief, sorrow; a burden; a cause of trouble → 1899 Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
► TIE care, burden, constraint; obligation, moral compulsion; necessity → 1724-32 Eng. dial.
► VAUR care, heed → 1897 Sc.
► WARD care, regard → a1300 obs.
► WARE watchful care, heed; safe-keeping, defense, protection → c893 obs.
► WAREFULNESS carefulness, caution → 1548 obs.
► WARELINESS carefulness, caution → c1000 obs.
► WARISOMENESS carefulness, caution → 1607 obs.
► YEME care, heed, attention → c893 obs.
► YEMING care, keeping, protection → c1250 obs.
► YEMSEL care, keeping, charge, custody → c1200 obs., chiefly Sc.

NOUNS – PERSON
► CURE-BEARER a person who has the care of something → 1545 obs.
► EASY KEEP a person requiring little care → 1943 Amer. dial.
► EASY KEEPER a person requiring little care → 1942 Amer. dial.
► EYEBALL a careful person → 1993 sl.
► SCRAPE-DAYTIONS a careful, miserly person → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SCRAPE-DISH a careful, miserly person → 1904 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► THOUGHT a person who is careful or wise beyond his years → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)

VERBS
► BEKEN to commit to the care of → c1350 obs.
► CARE A FRIG ► GIVE A FRIG to care, to be concerned; usually in a negative context → 1955 UK sl.
► DELT to treat with great care and attention; to caress, to fondle → 1890 Sc.
► GIVE A SHIT to care, to be concerned; usually in a negative context → 1970s UK sl.
► HANDLE WITH KID GLOVES to treat with extreme care → 1888 colloq.
► KEEP to take care; to give heed → a1300 obs.
► KEEP ONE’S EYE ON THE BALL to be careful; to be on the alert → 1907 US sl.
► LOOK A LITTLE OUT to be careful; to be on guard → 1928 Amer. dial.
► LOOK TO ONE’S LAURELS to be careful not to lose one’s superior position to a rival → 1882
► MIND OUT to be careful of → 1886 Brit. sl.
► OIL SOMEONE’S WHEELS to take care of; to be responsible for; to look after → 1990s sl.
► PUT INTO A BANDBOX to take very good care of → 1916 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► PUT ONESELF ON THE PEG to be careful, esp. as to liquor, behaviour, etc. → L19 military sl.
► TAKE ABOUT to take care of; to make firm and secure; to see to; esp. to nurse a dying person and see to the funeral → 1892 Sc.
► TAKE LARGE STOCK ► TAKE STOCK  to care about, to see as important, to take account of → M19 sl., orig. US
► TAKE TENT OF to take care of; to be careful or heedful; to beware → 1785 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► WAIT ON to care for or attend a pregnant or sick person → 1923 Amer. dial.
► WALK ON EGGS to proceed very carefully; to go gingerly and warily → 1859 sl.
► WALK WIDE to be careful;  to be on one’s guard → 1888 US sl.
► WARD to take care of, to guard, to stand guard over; to keep in safety; to defend, to protect → a1035 arch.
► WARE to be careful, to take care; to guard oneself → a1000 obs.