Meanings
verbhang in the balance (third-person singular simple present hangs in the balance, present participle hanging in the balance, simple past and past participle hung in the balance)
present singular third person hangs in the balance · participle present hanging in the balance · participle past hung in the balance · past hung in the balance
- idiomaticTo be in a precarious situation, unsure of the future.
His life was left hanging in the balance after he was shot in the side.
Translations
Finnish olla vaakalaudalla
- olla vaakalaudallato be in a precarious situation
Italian essere in bilico
- essere in bilicoto be in a precarious situation
Portuguese estar por um fio
- estar por um fioto be in a precarious situation
Russian висе́ть на волоске́
- висе́ть на волоске́ (visétʹ na voloské)to be in a precarious situation
Spanish pender de un hilo
- pender de un hiloto be in a precarious situation
Cite this entry
APA
hang in the balance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hang%20in%20the%20balance
MLA
“hang in the balance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hang%20in%20the%20balance. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hang in the balance,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hang%20in%20the%20balance.
Source: hang in the balance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.