walk a tightrope

Idioms and Phrases

Also, be on a tightrope . Take or be on a very precarious course, as in A university press must walk a tightrope to publish scholarly books and still make money , or The general was on a tightrope as to whether he should advance or retreat . This idiom transfers the balancing act performed by tightrope or high-wire acrobats to other concerns. [First half of 1900s]