- Meaning
- This idiom describes a precarious, fragile situation where something or someone is on the verge of failure, collapse, or disaster, held together only by the slimmest margin, like a thread. It conveys extreme vulnerability or uncertainty, often used in contexts of health, relationships, or projects to highlight imminent risk. The phrase carries a tense, dramatic tone, reflecting cultural fascination with fragility and the stakes of survival, and often implies urgency or the need for careful handling to avoid catastrophe.
- Origin
- The phrase has roots in Greek mythology, specifically the story of Damocles, whose life hung by a single thread over a sword, as recounted by Cicero (1st century BCE). In English, it appeared by the 14th century, with Geoffrey Chaucer’s *The Knight’s Tale* (1387) using ‘hanging by a thread’ for peril. The modern form was recorded in John Ray’s 1678 *English Proverbs*. It gained traction in the 19th century, reflecting Victorian melodramas, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853). Its use grew in American English during the 20th century, particularly in medical and political contexts, and the phrase’s vivid imagery ensured its spread across English-speaking cultures.
- Variants
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- Hang by a thread
- Hanging by a thread
- Hang by a single thread
- Held by a thread
- Examples
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- Her health is hanging by a thread after the accident, and doctors are worried.
- The deal hangs by a thread, with one wrong move risking its collapse.
- Hanging by a single thread, their marriage barely survived the scandal.
- The company is held by a thread, with layoffs looming if sales don’t improve.
- His chances of winning hang by a thread after that poor performance.
- Hanging by a thread, the old bridge could collapse under heavy traffic.
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