hang by a thread

hang by a thread
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.

* * *
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 BALANCE.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — or hang in the balance to be very likely to fail His career now hung by a thread …   English dictionary

  • hang by a thread — If something hangs by a thread, there is a very small chance indeed of it being successful or surviving …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • 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

  • hang by a thread — if something hangs by a thread, it is likely to fail in the near future. Peace and democracy hang by a thread in this troubled country …   New idioms dictionary

  • hang by a thread —    If something hangs by a thread, there is a very small chance indeed of it being successful or surviving.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • hang by a thread — be in doubt, depend on a very small thing The outcome of the election hung by a thread until the last two or three hours …   Idioms and examples

  • hang by a thread — verb To be in danger, calling for precise caution; to be in a precarious situation …   Wiktionary

  • hang by a thread — be in a precarious situation …   English contemporary dictionary

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