be walking a tightrope

To be doing something very carefully. Since there's been talk of layoffs, I've been walking a tightrope at work to prove how valuable I am. Most of my job involves getting the boss to do the things I want while thinking they're entirely his idea. So I'm usually walking on a tightrope, pretty much. Even though I've been walking on a tightrope all week, doing all of my chores and being super polite, Mom and Dad still won't let me stay out late on Friday night!

be walking a tightrope

COMMON If someone is walking a tightrope, they are in a difficult situation where a small mistake could cause failure, especially because they are trying to deal with two opposing things or groups of people. He is walking a tightrope between the young activists and the more traditional members within the democracy movement. He knows he is walking a tightrope on just how big his company can grow before the public turns against it. Note: You can call someone's attempt to deal with this type of situation a tightrope walk. The strategy is something of a tightrope walk.