touch-and-go

[Francois]

describes a situation which is uncertain:
The doctor says that it's touch-and-go whether Mary will be okay

Is it commonly used? If no, what expression is more frequent?
Is it restricted to some contexts (eg. medical) ?

FRC

 

[RonBee]

It is commonly used, and it is not restricted to any particular context.

 

[Tdol]

Medicine, business, politics, relationships,etc; as Ron says,anywhere it's applicable.;-)

 

[Francois]

His business is touch-and-go
Governments are touch-and-go in that part of the world

Correct?

FRC

 

[RonBee]

As Cambridge indicated, I would apply it to a situation rather than to a business or a government. Example:

• It was touch and go for a while whether we would make that deadline.

Does that help?

 

[Francois]

So the usual pattern is "It's touch-and-go whether..." ?

FRC

 

[RonBee]

Yes. Something like that.

:wink: