walk a tightrope

Also, be on a tightrope. Take or be on a very precarious course, as in A university press must walk a tightrope to publish scholarly books and still make money, or The general was on a tightrope as to whether he should advance or retreat. This idiom transfers the balancing act performed by tightrope or high-wire acrobats to other concerns. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is heading to the US to meet Donald Trump – a visit that will see her walk a tightrope between representing the interests of the EU and remaining in the US president's good books.

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The PM has insisted he can walk a tightrope and balance strong trading and security relationships on both sides, despite Trump's dislike of the EU.

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For all the contrast between the two campaigns, both Trump and Harris walk a tightrope as they seek, in different ways, to represent themselves as forces of change who can also offer voters a sense of national stability.

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Ms Scott said that as a female politician, Ms Harris will also likely be forced to walk a tightrope where she is perceived as strong in attacking her Republican rival, but doesn’t risk being seen as angry.

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It’s not every day that you see a teamster walk a tightrope, but on Monday night, Sean O’Brien, president of the mighty Teamsters union, was doing just that at the Republican National Convention.

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