Balancing act

Meaning

The idiom "balancing act" refers to a situation where someone or something is trying to maintain an equilibrium between two opposing or conflicting factors, tasks or responsibilities. It can also indicate a difficult or precarious position that requires careful attention and balance in order to avoid falling off.

Usage

• Juggling multiple tasks at work has become a daily balancing act for me.
• The tightrope walk was a daring balancing act that left the audience on edge.
• He has to balance his studies with his part-time job and extracurricular activities.
• Her attempt to balance her career and family life proved to be too much to handle.
• The tightrope walker performed a remarkable balancing act over the deep canyon.

Roots and History

The idiom "balancing act" has been used since the late 18th century, with its earliest known use appearing in a poem by William Collins in 1794. The idiom comes from the literal meaning of balancing, which refers to maintaining an even weight or distribution on both sides. The figurative meaning of balancing act emerged as a metaphor for situations that require careful attention and balance in order to succeed.

Synonyms in English

• Juggling multiple tasks at once
• Balancing priorities
• Managing competing responsibilities
• Handling opposing demands
• Keeping things under control

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "mantener el equilibrio" (to maintain balance)
• French: "maintenir l'équilibre" (to maintain balance)
• German: "die Waage halten" (to hold the scales)
• Italian: "mantenere la bilancio" (to maintain balance)
• Japanese: "平衡を維護する" (to protect balance)

Similar Idioms

• bump into

• bitter pill

• brown study