high-wire act

Idioms  

1. A risky job or operation, as in The university press is not allowed to either make or lose money—that's a high-wire act. This expression alludes to the aerialist performing on a tightrope stretched high above the ground. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high-wire act

Running a pharmaceutical company under our dysfunctional system is a high-wire act that requires balancing the high-risk, high-cost business of drug discovery against the dubious math of drug pricing.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

AUGUSTA, Ga. — From wire-to-wire to a harrowing high-wire act.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

“Ragtime” draws a portrait of America at a time of turmoil with broad dramatic strokes and emotional specificity, a high-wire act that might daunt the likes of Houdini—yet another character in the show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025

But walking that path is becoming a high-wire act: If the U.S. can continue on this trajectory, the reward is high.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025

With life a continuous high-wire act, he trained every surviving fiber to precision, dexterity, and tenacity.

From A Matter of Proportion by Anne Walker