touch-and-go

touch and go

Extremely uncertain as to the outcome of something. Hyphenated if used before a noun. Our business had a pretty rocky start—it was touch and go for a while there whether we'd even be able to keep going or not. The doctors said it was touch and go at points during surgery, but he is expected to pull through and make a full recovery. It was a touch-and-go match from beginning to end, but fortunately we were able to pull ahead in the last few minutes.

See also: and, go, touch

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

touch-and-go

very uncertain or critical. Things were touch-and-go at the office until a new manager was hired. Jane had a serious operation, and everything was touch-and-go for two days after her surgery.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.