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hang by a thread
hang by a thread
to be in danger of having something unlucky or bad happen Roberta was told that her job hung by a thread, and she needed to be more serious about it. For several days after the accident, his life hung by a thread.
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.
hang by a thread
Also, hang by a hair. Be in a risky or unstable situation, as in His promotion was hanging by a thread, or With the lead actor sick, the success of our play hung by a hair. This expression, already proverbial in the early 1500s, alludes to Damocles, who vexed King Dionysius with constant flattery. The king invited him to a banquet where Damocles found himself seated under a naked sword suspended by a single hair, symbolizing his insecure position at the court.
Common Names:
Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
Raeburn | | RAY-bərn | English (Rare) |
Gustav | | GOO-stahf (German) | Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German |
Colin (2) | | KAHL-in | English |
Nereus | | NEER-oos (English), NEER-ee-əs (English) | Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek |
Nadzieja | | nah-JAY-ah | Polish |
ÉMilien | | e-meel-YAWN | French |