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Glite Dictionary
to hang by a hair

to hang by a hair

9.1
To be in a very risky situation and about to fail
  • idiom
  • Informal
: estar al borde
  • Her life was hanging by a hair after the accident, as doctors fought to save her.

And and in that race to the finish, success or failure has to hang by a hair's breadth.

Examples

  • The project was hanging by a hair, with just days left before the deadline and no funding in sight.

  • The negotiations were hanging by a hair, and one wrong move could lead to a complete breakdown.

  • One wheel is hanging by a hair, waiting to fly off on a curve, doing 90 on the highway, just radio blasting, the hair's flying.

    The Jesus Rolls (2019)

Synonyms

out on a limb
vsto hang by a hair
  • Informal
54 7.0

In a risky position without support from others

is about imminent collapse rather than social lack of support
to hang in the balance
vsto hang by a hair
37 6.8

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

is about immediate risk where failure is close rather than undecided outcome
on the ropes
vsto hang by a hair
  • Informal
15 7.7

Very close to failure or defeat with little chance to recover

is risky but not always hopeless and focuses on imminent danger
to hang by a thread
vsto hang by a hair
  • Informal
1 6.1

In a very dangerous situation where a small problem can cause everything to fail

is about general imminent danger rather than a single preventing cause
to have the wolf by the ear
vsto hang by a hair
  • Archaic
1 9.9

You are in a dangerous situation where giving up is as risky as staying

is about imminent danger without the two-way risky choice aspect
hanging by a thread
vsto hang by a hair
  • Informal
7.3

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

is the same idea but uses a different visual image
to walk on the high rope
vsto hang by a hair
  • Informal
8.6

To be in a risky situation that needs great care to avoid failure

is about immediate danger rather than careful ongoing balance
on the high rope
vsto hang by a hair
  • US
9.5

In a risky situation that could end badly

is more about present imminent danger than possible severe outcomes

Antonyms

safe
∞ 1.0

Not likely to be harmed or in danger

secure
117 3.6

Feeling confident and free from worry or doubt

How Risky

to hang by a hair
  • Informal
9.1
to hang by a thread
  • Informal
1 6.1
to risk
∞ 3.0
secure
  • Specialized
31 4.7

Surface Forms

hang by a hair infinitive
hanging by a hair present participle
hangs by a hair third person singular
hung by a hair past
hung by a hair past participle

Morphology

hang + by + a + hair

The phrase literally evokes being suspended by a single hair, so a learner who knows 'hang' and 'hair' (with the grammatical 'by a') can infer a very precarious, near-failure situation. This compositional, image-based meaning aligns with common patterns like 'hang by a thread' and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, making it readily understandable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The idiom hang by a hair comes from the picture of something held only by a single hair, very thin and easy to break. So it means 'to be in a very risky situation' or 'about to fail'.