by a thread
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
ATLANTA—For the second time in the last four days, Argentina’s hopes of repeating as World Cup champions were hanging by a thread, as they stared down the possibility of a seismic upset.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
That injury - his third major one in as many years - left his hamstring "hanging on by a thread".
From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026
With 90 minutes left before his deadline expired, he announced a two-week ceasefire that appears to be hanging by a thread.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2026
But after a lengthy VAR review, the referee overturned his decision to leave Milan's title hopes hanging by a thread.
From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026
Since it had been a year since that meeting with Coach Mustilli, I was now holding on to my confidence by a thread.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.