English, baby!

hanging by a thread

Date: Jul 09 2009

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“My job is hanging by a thread.”

- Jason after being late to work again.

Can’t see the video below? You can watch it here.

2. Video - Watch the video before learning the definition.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

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about to fail, fragile situation

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

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You know that old sweater you love? The one you never wear anymore because it’s too fragile? The one with the sleeve that’s only held on by a tiny thread because it’s so worn out? Yeah, the sleeve on that sweater is hanging by a thread. It just might come all the way off next time you wear it.

In the latest edition of EXTREME English, baby! Jason tries to hold himself up using just a thread. It doesn’t work out very well. He falls and hurts himself.

A thread is weak and hard to hold on to, so anything that’s hanging by a thread could fail or fall apart at any time. When Jason gave his girlfriend a flower and she turned away, he became worried that his relationship might be hanging by a thread. His job is also hanging by a thread because he’s late so often.

Is anything in your life that’s just hanging by a thread?

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

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“The patient was badly injured. His life was hanging by a thread.”

“The sleeve on this shirt is hanging by a thread. It could fall off at any time.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

	it is a expression which means to be in a risky or unstable situation. by VOLTS
	That his job isn´t so certain as sooner. by Aneet
	at critical situation, by flm19
	is gonna to be fired.---really unsafe...! by chomo
	I am almost losing my job :( by amany7
	To be hung by a thread means to be in danger, if something is hung by a thread it is not sure anymore but could finish or be lost by monacovalentina
	It means that your almost losing something. In this case Jason is almost losing his work. by humilisnf
	Precarious state of things, the threat of something wrong to happen, pending unhappy turn. by Turmeric

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Comments

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BBoy Roty

Brazil

Hanging by a thred means unstable

kpl

Taiwan

the EARTH is hanging by a thread . no more do bad to it .

dianap72

United States

I like how they show the definition of hangig by a threat, it is very funny and, I think is a good way to learn

glaciernew

China

my job is hanging by a thread because of economy crisis.

azar_200816

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I didnt know the meaning of "Hanging by a thread". At first I guessed its meaning is "My job is full of stress " but after that I got its meaning.

Hangign by a thred = unstable

Ivan Sh.

Russian Federation

I'm broke!And I'm hanging by a thread…And I waiting for my month's salary

blueberry_pie

Indonesia

my exam is hanging by a thread because it’s very difficult

richpal

India

everyone is hanging by a thread because no one knows own life time . he must have remember to the god every day if he do not rember , god should not rember to meet him.

happy 4 ever

Oman

H don't have anything that is hanging by a thread. Sometimes when I travel, my money hangs by a thread. Recently, i have nothing.

ratu

India

How he can hanging by a thread ?

EDITH ^.~

United States

Good demonstration. Interesting.

a.dodo

Yemen

I am going to married after 6 months, so my budjet is hanging by a thread.

Ernesto Velasco

Mexico

vivivi^^

China

The man dissipated most of his money and was hanging by a thread.

rosendo

Mexico

hanging by a thread , good slang

here me Mexico we use it , but instead of it "walking in the loose rope" and the meaning is the same , when u are not doing something good and soon it would fail.

Khulood

United Arab Emirates

The student is hanging by a thread, he could fail at any time.
Their relationship is hanging by a thread, they could get divorced at anytime.
The team is hanging by a thread, they could lose at any time.
My internet connection is hanging by a thread, I could go offline at any time !! OOPS