51Թ

Advertisement

tightrope

[ tahyt-rohp ]

noun

  1. a rope or wire cable, stretched tight, on which acrobats perform feats of balancing.


verb (used without object)

tightroped, tightroping.
  1. to walk, move, or proceed on or as on a tightrope:

    He tightroped through enemy territory.

verb (used with object)

tightroped, tightroping.
  1. to make (one's way, course, etc.) on or as on a tightrope.

tightrope

/ ˈٲɪˌəʊ /

noun

  1. a rope or cable stretched taut above the ground on which acrobats walk or perform balancing feats
  2. to be in a difficult situation that demands careful and considered behaviour
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of tightrope1

First recorded in 1795–1805; tight + rope
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

see walk a tightrope .
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Once again, experts say, India finds itself walking the tightrope between escalation and restraint - a fragile balance of response and deterrence.

From

But from the start, the Clippers walked a tightrope that had them teetering all game, falling behind from the very beginning, putting stress on their defense.

From

For years, Vietnam has walked a tightrope between Washington and Beijing – the latter's expansive ambitions can be a threat to neighbours, especially growing economies that are keen to woo US businesses.

From

So the Bank's rate-setters face a delicate balancing act for the rest of the year, starting at their next meeting in May, particularly because nobody is sure how much the tightrope is going to wobble.

From

A week ago, Westminster was digesting the chancellor's Spring Statement and all the talk was of a tightrope walk and precarious public finances.

From

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


tight-mouthedtightrope walker