Question

Hanging by a Thread to be in a dangerous or unsafe position; to depend on something very small to save you

Accepted Answer

You are not quite failing, but you are hanging by a thread. There's a myth that tells of a king in the 5th century b.c. who grew tired of being told how wonderful he was by a flatterer named Damocles. The king threw a magnificent banquet for Damocles, who was having a grand time until he looked at the ceiling. He was shocked to see a large sharp sword hanging by a single, thin hair, and pointing straight down at his head! He quickly learned his lesson: Power and happiness are not secure, and usually depend on the will or favor of someone else. Today, when people are in risky situations, we say they're "hanging by a thread."

Idiom	Hanging by a Thread
Example	You are not quite failing, but you are hanging by a thread.
Meaning	to be in a dangerous or unsafe position; to depend on something very small to save you
Origin	There's a myth that tells of a king in the 5th century b.c. who grew tired of being told how wonderful he was by a flatterer named Damocles. The king threw a magnificent banquet for Damocles, who was having a grand time until he looked at the ceiling. He was shocked to see a large sharp sword hanging by a single, thin hair, and pointing straight down at his head! He quickly learned his lesson: Power and happiness are not secure, and usually depend on the will or favor of someone else. Today, when people are in risky situations, we say they're "hanging by a thread."

Hanging Thread Depend King Failing Dangerous Unsafe Position