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

It is not merely that his high-wire act supports and intensifies the drama and excitement that made him the dominant figure in American and then global politics for the past decade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 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

Liverpool's high-wire act has been fraught with danger this season and the Premier League champions have now lost their balance spectacularly to fall from the top of the table.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2025

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

From A Matter of Proportion by Walker, Anne