touch-and-go — uncertain whether something will succeed or fail; risky or precarious
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: uncertain whether something will succeed or fail; risky or precarious
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtʌtʃ ənd ˈɡoʊ/
Example Sentences
- After eating his wife's experimental sushi, it was touch-and-go whether he'd make it to the bathroom in time.
- The patient's condition remained touch-and-go throughout the night.
- It's touch-and-go whether my old car will survive another winter.
touch-and-go
ADJECTIVE[/ˈtʌtʃ ənd ˈɡoʊ/]
uncertain whether something will succeed or fail; risky or precarious
uncertain whether something will succeed or fail; risky or precarious
Touch-and-go on the tightrope show - will they succeed? Nobody can know!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This expression originated in aviation terminology, describing a risky landing maneuver in which an aircraft briefly touches down on a runway (touch) before immediately taking off again (go). The term later generalized to describe any precarious or uncertain situation.
Breakdown
touch (make contact) + and + go (depart/proceed). The compound combines two simple verbs to describe the simultaneous or sequential actions of landing contact and immediate departure.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After eating his wife's experimental sushi, it was touch-and-go whether he'd make it to the bathroom in time.”
“The patient's condition remained touch-and-go throughout the night.”
“It's touch-and-go whether my old car will survive another winter.”
“The company's survival was touch-and-go during the economic crisis.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.