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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IMOdraude

Brazil

Here in Brazil we have an expression that means literally the same that "hanging by a threat"... for curiosity the espression is "por um fio"

julywidiawati

Indonesia

No, there is nothing in my life that is just hanging by a thread, I have a great job, have no relationship.

Life is so beautiful..

boddi

China

I think there are a lot of things would be hanging by a thread.For example, if you want to master English in three months,it will be hanging by a thread,By the way, why can't I watch the video.It looks like very funny.

xoxoxo

Saudi Arabia

thanks I am hangin by a thread, in arabic we have something similar is hanging by a hair or a straw

cadimi

Viet Nam

fun vid lol. It will make us remember the phrase easily, and longer

Marcelolic

Brazil

Sometimes I think my “patience” is hanging by a thread,but I see that is stronger than I imagined! Unfortunately for us Taurians,our patience is a gift and a weakness!