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Glite Dictionary
to hang by a thread

to hang by a thread

1 6.1
In a very dangerous situation where a small problem can cause everything to fail
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : estar colgando de un hilo
  • The company's reputation now hangs by a thread after the recent scandal.
  • life hangs by a thread

Examples

  • After secrets and a mysterious background leave a wife's life hanging by a thread, a husband must look for answers in the only place he knows—the past.

    Blog text (8)

  • He'd forced himself to bring it all to Bath, but just thinking about it left him angry at his father, irked at his brothers, and deeply, privately alarmed that his entire life now hung by a thread.

    Blog text (7)

  • I don't think you'll ever hang by a thread just because I do think we can really take a big jump next year.

  • His credibility, already hanging by a thread, is being challenged big time by even the MSM.

    Blog text (8)

  • Her safety hangs by a thread as she travels alone in a dangerous area.

  • After the accident, his chances of recovery were hanging by a thread.

Synonyms

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

In a risky position without support from others

focuses on lack of support rather than a single small factor preventing disaster
to hang in the balance
vsto hang by a thread
37 6.8

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

is more about being prevented from disaster by a tiny element rather than mere uncertainty
on the ropes
vsto hang by a thread
  • Informal
15 7.7

Very close to failure or defeat with little chance to recover

is less final and instead highlights a fragile state kept from failure
to have the wolf by the ear
vsto hang by a thread
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

is about two equally risky options rather than being held safe by a tiny factor
hanging by a thread
vsto hang by a thread
  • Informal
7.3

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

is the same in meaning but used as a continuous or adjectival phrase
to hang by a hair
vsto hang by a thread
  • Informal
9.1

To be in a very risky situation and about to fail

is precarious but emphasizes a single small safeguard preventing immediate collapse
to walk on the high rope
vsto hang by a thread
  • Informal
8.6

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

focuses on being barely prevented from disaster by one small factor
on the high rope
vsto hang by a thread
  • US
9.5

In a risky situation that could end badly

is more about being kept from disaster by a very small cause

Antonyms

stable
473 2.3

Not likely to change and stays steady over time

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

Morphology

hang + by + a + thread

The image of something 'hanging by a thread' (suspended by a thin cord) directly conveys precariousness, so a learner who knows 'hang' and 'thread' can infer that only a small thing prevents failure. This is a concrete, widely attested metaphor across languages and follows an obvious compositional image, making it immediately comprehensible at B1.

Etymology

Hang by a thread: The idiom hang by a thread comes from the image of something only held up by one thin thread. Because it could fall with the smallest touch, the phrase now means 'in a dangerous situation' or 'close to failure'.