walk a tightrope

Idioms  

1. Also, be on a tightrope. Take or be on a very precarious course, as in A university press must walk a tightrope to publish scholarly books and still make money, or The general was on a tightrope as to whether he should advance or retreat. This idiom transfers the balancing act performed by tightrope or high-wire acrobats to other concerns. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

walk a tightrope

As the leader of an export-dependent economy, Carney is trying to walk a tightrope, yielding ground to secure tariff relief while attempting to retain enough leverage to protect Canadian sovereignty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

So rather than making those taxes disappear, you will have to walk a tightrope to make sure you stay within your lower tax bracket.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 17, 2026

The Fed cut rates three times last year but held off on further reductions in January as policymakers walk a tightrope, balancing inflation risks alongside labor market worries.

From Barron's ● Mar. 13, 2026

Ofcom is trying to walk a tightrope between online safety and freedom of speech.

From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025

It might be a drama of "stunts," too—as the movie people said: dangerous stunts, where she might have to walk a tightrope with a deep drop underneath.

From Vision House by Williamson, A. M. (Alice Muriel)