Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of uncertain action or outcome; that may explode, go off, or come to a head on the least touch or provocation; hence, ticklish; uncertain; applied to persons, circumstances, or actions.
  • Hasty and superficial; desultory.
  • noun An uncertain or precarious state of affairs as regards the happening or not happening of something.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective idiomatic precarious, delicate, dangerous, risky, sensitive or of uncertain outcome.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective fraught with danger

Etymologies

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Examples

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  • In nautical terms, the phrase originally described a situation in which the ship touched bottom but was not grounded.

    February 6, 2008

  • = a precarious situation

    July 25, 2008