hang by a hair

hang by a hair
hang by a hair & hang by a thread
1. Lit. to hang by something very thin, such as a thread or a hair. •

The tiniest part of the mobile hung by a thread, the rest are on plastic cords.

2. and hang on by a hair; hang on by a thread Fig. to depend on something very insubstantial; to hang in the balance. •

Your whole argument is hanging by a thread.

•

John isn't failing geometry, but his passing grade is just hanging by a hair.

* * *
See: HANG BY A THREAD.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hang by a hair — See: HANG BY A THREAD …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hang\ by\ a\ hair — • hang by a thread • hang by a hair v. phr. To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread. As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair. Compare: hang… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • hang by a hair — verb depend on a small thing or be at risk His life now hangs by a thread • Syn: ↑hang by a thread • Hypernyms: ↑depend • Verb Frames: Somebody s * * * hang by a ˈhair/ˈthread …   Useful english dictionary

  • hang by a thread — or[hang by a hair] {v. phr.} To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. * /For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread./ * /As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair./ Compare: HANG IN THE… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hang by a thread — or[hang by a hair] {v. phr.} To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. * /For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread./ * /As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair./ Compare: HANG IN THE… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hang\ by\ a\ thread — • hang by a thread • hang by a hair v. phr. To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread. As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair. Compare: hang… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • hang by a thread — verb depend on a small thing or be at risk His life now hangs by a thread • Syn: ↑hang by a hair • Hypernyms: ↑depend • Verb Frames: Somebody s * * * hang by a thread …   Useful english dictionary

  • hair — See: CURL ONE S HAIR, GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR, HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR, HIDE OR HAIR or HIDE NOR HAIR, IN ONE S HAIR, LET ONE S HAIR DOWN, OUT OF ONE S HAIR, SPLIT HAIRS, TEAR ONE S HAIR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hair — See: CURL ONE S HAIR, GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR, HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR, HIDE OR HAIR or HIDE NOR HAIR, IN ONE S HAIR, LET ONE S HAIR DOWN, OUT OF ONE S HAIR, SPLIT HAIRS, TEAR ONE S HAIR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • hair — See: curl one s hair, get gray hair or get gray, give gray hair, hang by a thread or hang by a hair, hide or hair or hide nor hair, in one s hair, let one s hair down, out of one s hair, split hairs, tear one s hair …   Словарь американских идиом

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