treading the boards

Verb

tread the boards (third-person singular simple present treads the boards, present participle treading the boards, simple past trod the boards or tread the boards or treaded the boards, past participle trodden the boards or trod the boards or tread the boards or treaded the boards)

1. (dated, humorous, idiomatic, intransitive) To work as a theatre actor.
   • He seems to think that he's the greatest actor who's ever trod the boards.

   Synonyms:

   tread the stage, walk the boards

2. (dated, figuratively, humorous, idiomatic, intransitive) To write plays for the theatre.
   • After years of acting, she decided to tread the boards as a playwright instead, penning three successful comedies for the local theater company.