To be suspended from a single thread or a very thin support, literally hanging by a thread.
2.
General Spanishneutralfigurative
To be in a precarious, unstable, or uncertain situation in which the outcome depends on small or fragile factors; to be at serious risk of failing or collapsing.
Examples:
ES: En Osaka, sentirse "ahorashi" significa "pender de un hilo".
EN: In Osaka dialect, feeling 'ahorashi' means you're barely hanging on.
ES: Hablando de pender de un hilo.
EN: Talk about holding on by a thread.
ES: El futuro de HankMed podría pender de un hilo.
EN: The future of hank med could hang in the balance.
ES: Hicieron pender de un hilo a Palmer, para que confesara, pero no lo consigueron.
EN: They held Ralph Palmer to the wire, trying to get a confession, but they didn't.
ES: Mi caso puede pender de un hilo.
EN: My case may hang in the balance.
ES: Porque un banderín puede pender de un hilo.
EN: 'Cause a pennant may hang in the balance.
ES: Creo que no puedo ofrecer una opinión justa porque mi carrera podría pender de un hilo.
EN: I don't think I can fairly offer an opinion, because my career could hang in the balance.