[hang] by a (thread|hair)
1
to be in a state or situation so critical that even a minor mistake can lead to a failure or disaster
The idiom "hang by a thread" has its origins in the image of something being so delicately or precariously suspended that it is held in place only by a single thread or hair. Figuratively, it is used to describe a situation, object, or person that is in an extremely precarious and vulnerable state, where the slightest disturbance or challenge could lead to a catastrophic outcome.
- The mayor's political future has been hanging by a thread since the fraud scandal.
- The peace agreement between the two nations is hanging by a thread, with tensions on the rise.
- After the economic crisis, the company's survival seemed to be hanging by a hair, but it managed to recover.
- Their marriage was hanging by a thread, and they needed counseling to save it.
- The patient's life hung by a thread as the medical team worked tirelessly to stabilize their condition.
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