hang by/on/with a single thread

[taked4700]

Hi,

The future of Japan is hanging by/on a single thread.

I know this is idiomatic, but I wonder if 'hanging with a single thread' could make sense or not.

Thanks in advance.

 

[probus]

By is natural and correct. On is unnatural but perhaps barely acceptable. With is out of the question.

 

[taked4700]

Thank you, Probus.

Can I ask a further question?

My dictionary says 'hang on a single thread' is an idiom.

Could you tell me in what context 'hang on a single thread' is idiomatic?

1. It is hanging on a single thread if I could make the train to the office.

2. My dinner date with Kate is hanging on a single thread. I've lost my bag so I have no money, no cash cards with me now.

Do you think these are idiomatic?

Thanks in advance.

 

[probus]

Thank you, Probus.

Can I ask a further question?

My dictionary says 'hang on a single thread' is an idiom.

Could you tell me in what context 'hang on a single thread' is idiomatic?

1. It is hanging on a single thread if I could make the train to the office.

2. My dinner date with Kate is hanging on a single thread. I've lost my bag so I have no money, no cash cards with me now.

Do you think these are idiomatic?

Thanks in advance.

Yes I think they are all idiomatic. Who am I, a humble retired English teacher, to argue against a dictionary? All I meant to say was that I think by is the better usage than on, and that with is wrong, which I think was your original question, and is still my original answer.

 

[taked4700]

Thank you, Probus.

Let me make sure once again.

Generally speaking, 'hang by a single thread' is more idiomatic than 'hang on a single thread' in any context, in other words, there is no context that makes 'hang on a single thread' more idiomatic than 'hang by a single thread'.

Is this right?

Thanks in advance.

 

[5jj]

I will happily argue against a dictionary if I think the compilers are mistaken. Who published your dictionary, taked?

1. It is hanging on a single thread if I could make the train to the office.

2. My dinner date with Kate is hanging on a single thread. I've lost my bag, so I have no money[STRIKE], no cash[/STRIKE] or cards with me now.

#1 seems to me to be so unnatural as not to be English. With my correction, #2 is possible, but 'by' would be more natural.

 

[taked4700]

Thank you, 5jj.

It seems to me that 'hang by a single thread' is more natural than 'hang on a single thread' in any context.

Is this right?

Thanks in advance.

 

[5jj]

It seems to me that 'hang by a single thread' is more natural than 'hang on a single thread' in any context.

Is this right?

That is what probus and I have said.