Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
on a knife-edge

on a knife-edge

1 7.8
A situation that could easily end well or badly
  • idiom
translation icon : en una situación precaria
  • The negotiations were on a knife-edge, and any wrong move could jeopardize the deal.
  • balanced on a knife-edge

But it's that's on a knife edge as well, but tough.

Examples

  • The town balanced on a knife edge, with the price of copper on one side and the cost of mining it on the other.

    Blog text (17)

  • Despite the fact that Senate control is on a knife edge (Politico NYT), publicly available polls are surprisingly scarce.

    Blog text (32)

  • It's on a knife edge.

    Blog text (18)

  • London's on a knife edge.

    G.B.H. (2012)

  • Both Senate and House control are on a knife-edge.

    Blog text (3)

  • That is our main problem, and it's balancing on a knife edge right now.

    Blog text (8)

  • Our future is balanced on a knife-edge.

    Blog text (9)

  • If anything, Silver's placing of Florida on a knife edge makes him look even more prescient.

    Blog text (1)

  • Today's Financial Times bears a banner headline on p.1: "US election hangs on a knife edge."

    Blog text (14)

  • The Princeton Election Consortium's analysis and prediction approach gives a sharp picture of where we are: very likely Obama re-election, with House and Senate on a knife edge.

    Blog text (3)

Synonyms

on the line
vson a knife-edge
230 4.8

At risk of being lost or harmed because of how something turns out

focuses on unstable chance where result could be either success or failure
brink
vson a knife-edge
127 5.7

A point when an important or dangerous change is about to happen

is about being unstable with balanced possible results rather than imminent event
to hang in the balance
vson a knife-edge
37 6.8

To be in a situation where the result is not decided, for example a job or game

means unstable with a strong chance either way not just undecided
on thin ice
vson a knife-edge
  • Informal
20 6.2

In danger of getting into trouble for something you did

is about dangerous instability with uncertain outcome not just possible trouble
touch-and-go
vson a knife-edge
  • Informal
9 7.2

A situation that is dangerous or uncertain until the last moment

is unstable and could go either way before the last moment
edge of the abyss
vson a knife-edge
1 8.5

A dangerous point where disaster is about to happen

is unstable and might go either way without guaranteed disaster
hanging by a thread
vson a knife-edge
  • Informal
7.3

In a very risky situation where failure can happen at any moment

is unstable but emphasises a balanced outcome not only imminent collapse
on the high rope
vson a knife-edge
  • US
9.5

In a risky situation that could end badly

is about unstable balance where outcome could go either way not only severe risk

Antonyms

on solid ground
2 3.9

Feeling safe and confident after a time of doubt or worry

How Precarious

on a knife-edge
1 7.8
precarious
47 7.6
shaky
53 3.3

Surface Forms

on a knife-edge positive

Morphology

on + a + knife-edge

The phrase literally evokes being 'on' the narrow, dangerous edge of a knife, so a learner who knows 'on', 'a', 'knife' and 'edge' can infer a sense of danger or precarious balance. However, the extension to an uncertain outcome or unstable situation is a metaphorical mapping rather than fully compositional, so understanding the exact nuance usually requires some exposure or inference.

Etymology

The idiom on a knife-edge comes from the image of something balanced on the very thin edge of a knife, ready to fall either way. So it means 'in a dangerous, unstable situation' where a small change could decide what happens.