History Main / SneakyTipToes

When becoming a cat burglar, you have to learn rules before you become one. Some include coming out of the dark because that is when people don’t really come outside, wearing black clothes to camouflage through the dark, and not making any sounds, which is the exact reason walking on tiptoes was created.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]

* ''Series/LazyTown'': In "Robbie's Dream Team", during the "We Are Number One" music sequence, Robbie instructs his [[DreamTeam "dream team"]] to sneak around, complete with tiptoeing. He also tells them not to make a sound - [[AgonyOfTheFeet cue one of them stepping on a twig and making an audible "crack" sound.]]

When becoming a cat burglar, you have to learn rules before you become one. Some include, come out of the dark because that is when people don’t really come outside, wear black cloth to camouflage through the dark, and don’t make any sounds, which is the exact reason walking on tip toes were created.

This trope is where a character [[Main/ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin tries to move quietly and sneakily by walking on the tip of their toes,]] often accompanied by exaggerated gestures and expressions. This is usually done for comedic effect, as the character is either oblivious to the noise they are making or overestimates their [[Main/StealthExpert stealth skills.]] In animated works, characters may also be shown tip-toeing using their fingers (or an equivalent) in addition to their toes. Also, in animated works, tiptoes may be accompanied by a string of xylophone notes, which amusingly results in them being louder (to the audience) than their normally silent footsteps. Sometimes, the character may be caught by someone [[Main/BeingWatched who was watching them all along,]] or they may [[Main/AgonyOfTheFeet accidentally step on something that makes a loud sound and alerts everyone.]]

Tip toes are a common way of moving around when someone wants to be stealthy or playful. They involve lifting the heels off the ground and balancing on the toes of the feet, making as little noise as possible. Sometimes, tip toes are used to sneak up on someone and surprise them, or to avoid being detected by someone who might be angry or annoyed. Tip toes can be helpful for many things, but they can also backfire if the person is not careful enough.

Tip toes aren’t always used for stealth though. They are also used for ballet, which is a common dance for [[Main/StraightToThePointe ballet dancers.]] Tip toes are also used to reach something that is too high or far away.

This trope is commonly associated with Main/ClassyCatBurglar. Sometimes can be used with Main/TheSneakyGuy. Also associated with Main/WithCatlikeTread when characters try to do this to be stealthy but end up failing.

Compare Main/SneakersOfSneaking, where footwear is chosen with stealth in mind. Often overlaps with Main/DontWakeTheSleeper. See also Main/NoiselessWalker.

[[folder: Films - Animated]]
* [[WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon2010 How to Train Your Dragon]]: Hiccup approaches a wounded dragon in the forest by tip-toeing. He is curious by the creature, but he also fears its reaction.
* [[Main/LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in [[WesternAnimation/TheSpongeBobMovieSpongeOutOfWater SpongeBob Squarepants: Sponge out of Water]] when Plankton is trying to sneak to Patrick in the Chum Bucket during an apocalypse:
->Plankton: "[sneaking to Patrick in Chum Bucket, only to be paused by Spongebob playing a piano] Will you stop playing that piano?!"
->Spongebob: "[stops playing piano] Sorry."

[[folder: Films – Live-Action]]
* Film/TheReturnOfThePinkPanther: Inspector Clouseau tip toes to a hotel room where he thinks the Pink Panther diamond is hiding, but he accidentally causes a big mess.

[[folder: Literature]]
* Literature/TheFamousFive are often described as tiptoeing when they they move stealthily, often past sleeping enemies.

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
* Series/LazyTown: In "Robbie's Dream Team", during the "We Are Number One" music sequence, Robbie instructs his [[Main/DreamTeam "dream team"]] to sneak around, complete with tiptoeing. He also tells them to not make a sound - [[Main/AgonyOfTheFeet cue one of them stepping on a twig and making an audible "crack" sound.]]

[[folder: Video Games]]
* Advertising/TheBurgerKing: In the Sneak King video game, the King walks around on tiptoes when sneaking around to surprise people with lunch.
* VideoGame/QuestForGlory: The hero's sneak animation moves around on tip-toes, with the typical pose. Because the skill needs to be trained to a high amount, the hero therefore needs to sneak across long distances.
* VideoGame/TheSims3: Sims who are grounded or under curfew have a special "sneaky" walk animation when they leave the house, which consists of them walking on their tiptoes with a mischievous smirk. Burglars may use a similar animation when robbing a location. Occasionally, a bug can occur that makes this the Sim's main walking animation.
* VideoGame/SpongeBobSquarePantsBattleForBikiniBottom: Spongebob's sneak ability allows him to walk on the tips of his toes, which is used to be able to get close to Ssh Tikis in order to break them as well as sneak up on Sleepy-Times to defeat them.
* [[VideoGame/TombRaiderI Tomb Raider]]: There is a trophy called “On Tiptoes” that you can earn if you don’t alert any enemies.
* VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild: There is a mechanic called “Stealth” that allows the player to tip toe and reduce the noise they make.

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer has this occur multiple times, often overlapping with Main/DontWakeTheSleeper:

** In "Baby Dino", Dora, Boots, Diego, and Baby Dino have to tiptoe past the Mommy T-Rex to avoid disturbing her as she rocks her baby to sleep; every time she looks at them, they have to [[Main/NobodyHereButUsStatues freeze and hold still like statues]] so she doesn't see them.

* WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants has used this trope several times on some occasions, mainly when the characters are trying to walk quietly. Examples include:

** In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS1E14SB129KarateChoppers Karate Choppers]]", when [=SpongeBob=] believes Sandy's hiding behind his couch, he attempts to silently tiptoe over. However, his feet to quack as he walks; it's then revealed that he actually was stepping on squeaky toy ducks.

** In "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS4E16TheThingHocusPocus The Thing]]", [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick mistake a cement-covered Squidward for a wild animal. When Squidward gets thrown in a zoo, they attempt to rescue him at night, tiptoeing towards his cage.

** "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS7E1TentacleVisionIHeartDancing I ♥ Dancing]]" begins with Squidward tiptoeing out of his house, not wanting to attracted [=SpongeBob=]. He fails.