Example: She had to walk a fine line between work and rest today.
Definition
"To walk a fine line" means to carefully balance between two opposing or delicate situations to avoid negative consequences. It involves maintaining caution and precision to manage competing interests or risks without tipping too far in either direction.
Translations
mantener un equilibrio delicado
op een dunne lijn balanceren
mantenir un equilibri delicat
jouer un jeu d'équilibriste
einen schmalen Grat beschreiten
Etymology
The phrase "to walk a fine line" originates from the literal act of walking along a narrow path or line, such as a tightrope walker balancing carefully. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to describe situations requiring careful balance or judgment. Did you know it reflects the skill and precision needed to avoid falling off either side?
Learn to use this expression actively
"To walk a fine line" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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