baling wire
noun
: wire originally designed to bind bales of hay or straw : haywire
… were secured … by baling wire twisted through the padlock hasps.—
Robert A. Caro
—often used figurativelyRobert A. CaroInjury-riddled Michigan State might be considered a powerhouse, except its team is being held together with chewing gum and baling wire.—Lynn Zinse
Lynn ZinseExamples of baling wire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The move bolsters a Dodgers pitching rotation that was held together with baling wire and glue through two rounds of playoffs and the World Series.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
For a fractious coalition that at times seems to be held together with spit, baling wire, and old memories of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party has a remarkably singular message: Donald Trump is an existential threat to the country.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 1 July 2024
Coach Frank Reich better find some bubble gum and baling wire in the coming weeks if his team is to survive its forbidding early season schedule.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2021
Rod Marinelli, the MacGyver of football coaches, needed only gum and baling wire to fortify the Cowboys’ defensive front.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 16 Mar. 2021
There’s not enough chewing gum and baling wire to hold Tiger Woods together for his charge at Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus won 18 majors.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 7 Aug. 2020
Forget about bungee cords, nylon straps and baling wire.
—John Goodspeed, ExpressNews.com, 12 Sep. 2019
The Brewers held together a depleted rotation with spit and baling wire, relied heavily on the bullpen and tried to eke out enough runs from an offense that was too reliant on home runs to score.
—Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2017
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Dan Freedman, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
For a fractious coalition that at times seems to be held together with spit, baling wire, and old memories of Barack Obama, the Democratic Party has a remarkably singular message: Donald Trump is an existential threat to the country.
—Bryan Walsh, Vox, 1 July 2024
Coach Frank Reich better find some bubble gum and baling wire in the coming weeks if his team is to survive its forbidding early season schedule.
—Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2021
Rod Marinelli, the MacGyver of football coaches, needed only gum and baling wire to fortify the Cowboys’ defensive front.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, 16 Mar. 2021
There’s not enough chewing gum and baling wire to hold Tiger Woods together for his charge at Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus won 18 majors.
—Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 7 Aug. 2020
Forget about bungee cords, nylon straps and baling wire.
—John Goodspeed, ExpressNews.com, 12 Sep. 2019
The Brewers held together a depleted rotation with spit and baling wire, relied heavily on the bullpen and tried to eke out enough runs from an offense that was too reliant on home runs to score.
—Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Baling wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baling%20wire. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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