balancing act
noun[C]
uk/ˈbæl.ən.sɪŋ ˌækt/us/ˈbæl.ən.sɪŋ ˌækt/[usually singular]
adifficultsituationin which someone has totryto giveequalamountsofimportance,time,attention, etc. to two or more different things at the sametime:
Ifoundmyself having to do abalancingactbetweenworkandfamily.我发现自己必须努力在工作和家庭之间求得平衡。
Quicklyrespondingto anemergencysituationwithoutwastingtaxpayers'moneycan be adifficultbalancingact.
aperformancein which someoneentertainspeoplebybalancingindifficultpositions,especiallyhigh above theground, or bybalancingobjectsindifficultpositions; apersonwhoperformsthistypeofentertainment:
Theysingandaccompanythemselves onguitarwhileperformingabalancingact.
The showemployscontortionists,balancingacts, and aerialists.
Compare
equilibrist
- Warningchildrenaboutpersonalsafetyis abalancingact: how do youprotectyourchildrenwithoutfrighteningthem?
- Hislawyerfacesadifficultbalancingact: if hisclientexpressesremorsefor hiscrimes, it would betantamountto anadmissionofguilt.
- At myage,exercisingmybodyandallowingit torestis abalancingact.
- Leadershiprequiresperformingbalancingactseveryday.
Coping and not coping
- be left holding the babyidiom
- bear up
- bite
- bite off more thanyoucan chewidiom
- buckle
- cut
- hand
- head
- hold
- keep body and soul togetheridiom
- keep the wolf from the dooridiom
- keepyourhead above wateridiom
- keep/holdyourend upidiom
- live (from) hand to mouthidiom
- manage
- stretch tosomething
- stride
- subsist
- subsistence
- takesomethinginyourstrideidiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Spectacles & performances
Entertainers in general