tightrope

American  

[tahyt-rohp] / ˈtaɪtˌroʊp /

noun

1. a rope or wire cable, stretched tight, on which acrobats perform feats of balancing.

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verb (used without object)

tightroped, tightroping

1. to walk, move, or proceed on or as on a tightrope.

   He tightroped through enemy territory.

verb (used with object)

tightroped, tightroping

1. to make (one's way, course, etc.) on or as on a tightrope.

tightrope British  

/ ˈtaɪtˌrəʊp /

noun

1. a rope or cable stretched taut above the ground on which acrobats walk or perform balancing feats

2. to be in a difficult situation that demands careful and considered behaviour

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tightrope Idioms  

1. see walk a tightrope.

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Etymology

Origin of tightrope

First recorded in 1795–1805; tight + rope

Example Sentences

It is the balancing act Emery has to get right while Villa walk the financial tightrope, which has harmed them in more ways than one.

From BBC

Since taking office, however, Lee has walked a diplomatic tightrope among the region's major powers, from the US to China and now Japan.

From BBC

Confronting today’s slow housing market with policy is a tightrope walk.

From Barron's

Confronting today’s slow housing market with policy is a tightrope walk.

From Barron's

Seoul has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between Beijing and Tokyo.

From BBC