# hang in the balance

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hang-in-the-balance
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be in a precarious situation, unsure of the future.

## Examples

- The team's future hangs in the balance after the loss.
- With the company facing a major lawsuit, the jobs of hundreds of employees hang in the balance.
- As the final votes were counted, the outcome of the election hung in the balance, leaving the entire nation in a state of tense anticipation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.