26984 words

tightrope

3 definitions • 2 examples
1
a tightly stretched wire or rope fixed high above the ground, across which skilled people walk, especially in order to entertain others:

Examples:

One of the acrobats who walked the tightrope at the circus did it blindfolded.
2
a stretched wire or rope fixed above the ground that skilled people walk across, esp. in a circus performance
3
to consider carefully the decisions or risks that you take in order to deal successfully with a difficult situation:

Examples:

Increasing numbers of employers are having to walk a tightrope between immigration laws and laws relating to discrimination.

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