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Glite Dictionary
touch-and-go

touch-and-go

9 7.2
A situation that is dangerous or uncertain until the last moment
  • adjective
  • /ˈtʌtʃ ənd ˈɡoʊ/
  • Informal
translation icon : peligroso
  • It was touch and go after that whether we'd hold the battalion together.
  • touch-and-go for a while
  • Things were touch-and-go
  • very touch-and-go

So it's it's it's a touch and go situation still.

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Examples

  • It was touch and go whether she'd live or not.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • It's touch and go whether he'll make it.

    Shadow Dancer (2012)

  • For a while there it was touch and go.

    Demon Hunter (2016)

  • But it was pretty touch and go.

    Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams (2018)

  • Things were a little touch-and-go for a couple of years.

    Fatman (2020)

  • It was touch and go for six hours.

    My Life (1993)

  • It's been touch-and-go, but you're gonna be fine.

    Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

  • It's touch-and-go now.

    Ed (1996)

  • He tapped the blueprints: 'It was touch and go, Andy, whether we'd build this trial run in your Florida showcase or the big development Harry Cain operates for us near San Diego.'

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The patient is stable, but it remains a touch-and-go situation as we await test results.

Synonyms

precarious
vstouch-and-go
47 7.6

In a dangerous, unstable position likely to fall or fail

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment
perilous
vstouch-and-go
43 7.5

Full of danger that could cause harm

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment
dicey
vstouch-and-go
  • Informal
30 8.5

Likely to be risky or dangerous because the outcome is uncertain

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment
on a knife-edge
vstouch-and-go
1 7.8

A situation that could easily end well or badly

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment
parlous
vstouch-and-go
  • Literature
1 9.9

Full of danger or likely to cause harm

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment
hanging by a thread
vstouch-and-go
  • Informal
7.3

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

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment
cliff-hanging
vstouch-and-go
6.3

Makes people feel excited and nervous because the result is unknown until the last moment

is about danger with the result uncertain until the final moment

Antonyms

certain
946 1.0

Sure to happen or be true

secure
117 3.6

Feeling confident and free from worry or doubt

How Risky

dire
141 6.9
critical
917 4.0
touch-and-go
  • Informal
9 7.2
risky
269 3.6
dicey
  • Informal
30 8.5
uncertain
149 2.8

Surface Forms

touch-and-go positive

Morphology

touch-and-go = touch + go (semi-transparent) = touch + and + go

The constituent words 'touch' and 'go' are obvious, but the idiomatic meaning 'precarious; uncertain' is not directly derivable from their literal meanings.

Etymology

Touch-and-go comes from the image of a quick touch ('a brief contact') followed by go ('leave'), like a plane that just touches the ground and immediately takes off. This is a helpful way to remember why a touch-and-go situation is risky and uncertain until the last moment.