on a/the knife-edge
idiom
: in a dangerous or important situation in which two very different results are possible
The election results hung on a knife-edge.
a region resting on a knife-edge after several wars
living on the knife-edge of poverty
Examples of on a/the knife-edge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That places the value of his stake on a knife-edge.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Avery, the man who put the world’s economy on a knife-edge by plundering the flagship of Aurangzeb of India, possibly the richest person in the world, drew deeply on a pipe filled with Virginia’s finest tobacco.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Even by the standards of the many monotonous origin stories that have been rolled out during this superhero boom, Daniel Espinosa’s film is a whiff, a half-hearted effort to create a character on a knife-edge between valor and villainy that instead ends up a portrait of a very annoying weirdo.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2022
The situation is already on a knife-edge since huge Western shipments of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles are fueling Ukraine's strong resistance and apparently causing heavy Russian casualties.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 28 Mar. 2022
But the biggest warning comes when going up the final half-mile ascent, which requires hanging onto a chain while on a knife-edge ridge.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2021
King of Boys ended on a knife-edge (spoiler alert).
—Alexander Onukwue, Quartz, 16 Aug. 2021
Floyd's death last year triggered nationwide protests, and the Chauvin trial has left the city on a knife-edge.
—Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, 20 Apr. 2021
The move effectively ends America’s involvement in its longest war in history, but leaves Afghanistan teetering on a knife-edge.
—Time, 14 Apr. 2021
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Avery, the man who put the world’s economy on a knife-edge by plundering the flagship of Aurangzeb of India, possibly the richest person in the world, drew deeply on a pipe filled with Virginia’s finest tobacco.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Even by the standards of the many monotonous origin stories that have been rolled out during this superhero boom, Daniel Espinosa’s film is a whiff, a half-hearted effort to create a character on a knife-edge between valor and villainy that instead ends up a portrait of a very annoying weirdo.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2022
The situation is already on a knife-edge since huge Western shipments of anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles are fueling Ukraine's strong resistance and apparently causing heavy Russian casualties.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 28 Mar. 2022
But the biggest warning comes when going up the final half-mile ascent, which requires hanging onto a chain while on a knife-edge ridge.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2021
King of Boys ended on a knife-edge (spoiler alert).
—Alexander Onukwue, Quartz, 16 Aug. 2021
Floyd's death last year triggered nationwide protests, and the Chauvin trial has left the city on a knife-edge.
—Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, 20 Apr. 2021
The move effectively ends America’s involvement in its longest war in history, but leaves Afghanistan teetering on a knife-edge.
—Time, 14 Apr. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on a/the knife-edge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“On a/the knife-edge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20a%2Fthe%20knife-edge. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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