balancing act

plural balancing acts

1. entertainmentA performance that involves balancing things precariously and suspensefully.

   Synonyms: equilibristics

2. figurativelyAn effort to manage many conflicting or competing items or interests.

   Labour is also facing a delicate balancing act in managing the expectations of trade unions, following its pledge to nationalise the railways.

   2023 May 31, Tammy Samuel, Fergus McLaverty, “The political picture: what lies ahead for Britain's railways?”, in RAIL, number 984, page 31

   2 more examples

   While I have not found corroboration for King's claim, Ivy and Bean series author Annie Barrows has acknowledged that there is a delicate balancing act involved in representing free-range children today

   2015, Jennifer Miskec, Annette Wannamaker, The Early Reader in Children’s Literature and Culture, →ISBN

   It is a difficult balancing act because Maguire might not wish to be taken out of the line of fire and such are United's current struggles that Solskjaer may feel he needs his leader going in to battle for him.

   2020 October 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-1 Denmark: 'Harry Maguire looked devoid of confidence in Nations League loss'”, in BBC Sport