high wire

A tightly stretched wire or rope high above the ground, used by acrobats in circus performances; also used figuratively to describe a risky or precarious situation.

• 🇩🇪Stark gespanntes Seil oder Draht hoch über dem Boden, auf dem Akrobaten im Zirkus auftreten; auch bildlich für eine riskante oder prekäre Situation.

1. Tightrope B2 formal

   A tightly stretched wire or rope high above the ground, used by acrobats for balancing and performing tricks.

   • The acrobat walked across the high wire without a safety net.
   • She performed a daring flip on the high wire.
   • The circus high wire act amazed the audience.

   🇩🇪Hochseil

2. Precarious situation C1 informal

   A risky or dangerous position or situation that requires careful handling.

   • The politician is walking a high wire between two opposing parties.
   • Managing the company's finances during the crisis is a high wire act.
   • He felt like he was on a high wire trying to balance work and family.

   🇩🇪gefährliche Lage