high wire: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-mediumSpecialized (circus/performance), Figurative (journalism, business)
Quick answer
What does “high wire” mean?
A tightrope, typically suspended high above the ground, used in circus performances.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tightrope, typically suspended high above the ground, used in circus performances.
A situation requiring careful balance due to significant risk, difficulty, or precariousness; metaphorically, a state of tension where a misstep could lead to failure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Figurative use is slightly more common in American journalistic and business contexts.
Connotations
Connotes danger, skill, spectacle, and precarious balance in both varieties.
Frequency
Rare in everyday conversation. Appears in descriptive writing, news analysis, and metaphorical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “high wire” in a Sentence
[Subject] walk(s) a high wire[Subject] is a high-wire acta high-wire [Noun, e.g., negotiation, performance]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high wire” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The diplomat faced a high-wire negotiation to avoid conflict.
- Their high-wire financial strategy made investors nervous.
American English
- The CEO is known for his high-wire approach to corporate deals.
- It was a high-wire operation with no room for error.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describing risky financial strategies or delicate merger negotiations.
Academic
Used in political science or sociology to describe precarious policy or social situations.
Everyday
Rare; used figuratively to describe personal risk (e.g., 'Managing work and childcare feels like a high-wire act').
Technical
Specific term in circus arts and performance studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high wire”
- Using 'highwire' as one word (acceptable but less common than the hyphenated or spaced form).
- Confusing with 'barbed wire' or 'live wire'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to high wire' is non-standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be written as two words ('high wire'), hyphenated ('high-wire'), or, less commonly, as one word ('highwire'), especially when used attributively (before a noun). 'High-wire' is common in figurative use.
No. The action is expressed with the verb 'walk' or 'perform on' (e.g., 'to walk a high wire'). 'High-wire' functions as a noun or a compound adjective.
They are largely synonymous in their literal sense. 'Tightrope' is more common in general English. 'High wire' can sometimes imply the wire is specifically elevated to a great height for spectacle. Figuratively, they are interchangeable.
It is neutral to slightly informal. It's common in journalism and business writing to add vivid imagery but might be replaced with more formal terms like 'precarious undertaking' in very formal academic or legal documents.
A tightrope, typically suspended high above the ground, used in circus performances.
High wire: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈwaɪə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈwaɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “walk/tread a high wire”
- “a high-wire act”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a performer HIGH up on a WIRE, balancing. This visual captures both the literal and figurative sense of a risky, skill-dependent situation.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULT TASKS ARE BALANCING ACTS; RISK IS HEIGHT.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'a high-wire acquisition' most likely implies: