hang by a thread

Idioms  

1. Also, hang by a hair. Be in a risky or unstable situation, as in His promotion was hanging by a thread, or With the lead actor sick, the success of our play hung by a hair. This expression, already proverbial in the early 1500s, alludes to Damocles, who vexed King Dionysius with constant flattery. The king invited him to a banquet where Damocles found himself seated under a naked sword suspended by a single hair, symbolizing his insecure position at the court.

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Example Sentences

Then 27th-ranked Italy, in their first World Cup, needed 30 from the last two overs in Kolkata on Monday for a giant-killing that could have left England's World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

From Barron's

The movie industry is really hanging by a thread right now.

From Los Angeles Times

Less than five years ago, the Golden Globes were hanging by a thread.

From Los Angeles Times

Lincoln Riley said he sensed a shift in his team’s demeanor at halftime, just as the team’s Playoff hopes were hanging by a thread.

From Los Angeles Times

The night before, his team had suffered a "terrible loss" at home that left their NFL play-off hopes hanging by a thread.

From BBC

Related Words

• compromise
• defy
• endanger
• imperil
• jeopardize