Phrase guide

hang by a thread

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be in danger, calling for precise caution; to be in a precarious situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hang by a hair

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

depend on a small thing or be at risk

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His life now hangs by a thread

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hang by a hair

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: depend

History

Etymology

An allusion to the anecdotal sword of Damocles, which was suspended by a hair.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: aguantar-se per un fil — to be in a precarious situation
  • Catalan: venir d'un fil — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Cantonese: 岌岌可危 (kap1 kap1 ho2 ngai4) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Cantonese: 命懸一線 /命悬一线 (ming6 jyun4 jat1 sin3) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Cantonese: 危在旦夕 (ngai4 zoi6 daan3 zik6) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Cantonese: 千鈞一髮 /千钧一发 (cin1 gwan1 jat1 faat3) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 岌岌可危 (jí jí kě wēi) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 命懸一線 /命悬一线 (mìng xuán yī xiàn) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 危在旦夕 (wēi zài dàn xī) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Chinese Mandarin: 千鈞一髮 /千钧一发 (qiān jūn yī fà) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Finnish: olla hiuskarvan varassa — to be in a precarious situation
  • French: ne tenir qu'à un fil — to be in a precarious situation
  • German: an einem seidenen Faden hängen — to be in a precarious situation
  • Hebrew: תָּלוּי עַל בְּלִימָה (talúy 'al blimá) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Icelandic: hanga á bláþræði — to be in a precarious situation
  • Italian: essere appeso a un filo — to be in a precarious situation
  • Latvian: karāties mata galā — to be in a precarious situation
  • Macedonian: ви́си на вла́кно (vísi na vlákno) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Macedonian: ви́си на ко́нец (vísi na kónec) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Polish: wisieć na włosku — to be in a precarious situation
  • Portuguese: estar por um fio — to be in a precarious situation
  • Russian: висе́ть на волоске (visétʹ na voloske) — to be in a precarious situation
  • Spanish: pender de un hilo — to be in a precarious situation
  • Thai: แขวนบนเส้นด้าย (kwăen bon sâynádâai) — to be in a precarious situation