Meaning of knife-edge | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A piece of steel sharpened to an acute edge or angle, and resting on a smooth surface, serving as the axis of motion of a pendulum, scale beam, or other piece required to oscillate with the least possible friction.
2. A precarious balance that could be upset by a very small force in either direction.
   figuratively
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: the edge of a knife.

Equivalents

Examples

“The game was on a knife-edge.”

“[…]meanwhile, Biloxi and Vincennes are both in the process of going down and being abandoned, whilst Miami is right on the knife-edge of being recoverable, with three destroyers clustering around offering pumping and additional damage-control crews to try and keep the light cruiser afloat.”

“Boris Johnson's future on a knife edge after No 10 party apology [title]”

“Polling stations have opened in a knife-edge election in Finland, with polls suggesting the three leading parties are running neck-and-neck and prime minister Sanna Marin may face an uphill battle to stay in power.”

CEFR level