(~s)
1.
A ~ is a tightly stretched piece of rope on which someone balances and performs tricks in a circus.
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2.
You can use ~ in expressions such as walk a ~ and live on a ~ to indicate that someone is in a difficult situation and has to be very careful about what they say or do.
School administrators walk a ~ between the demands of the community and the realities of how children really behave...
N-COUNT: usu sing