Hanging by a Thread

Etymology:

• This idiom originated from a tale of a king ruled over in 5th century B.C. he got frustrated of his admiration, told by a flatterer named Damocles. Once, he invited a grand banquet for Damocles. He was enjoying the banquet, but when he saw at the ceiling, he was shocked to see a sword hanging by a single thread pointed towards his head. He got his lesson that supremacy and bliss are insecure and mostly depends on someone’s will and favor. Nowadays when we see someone in danger, we often use this expression.