touch and go
Extremely uncertain as to the outcome of something. Hyphenated if used before a noun. Our business had a pretty rocky start—it was touch and go for a while there whether we'd even be able to keep going or not. The doctors said it was touch and go at points during surgery, but he is expected to pull through and make a full recovery. It was a touch-and-go match from beginning to end, but fortunately we were able to pull ahead in the last few minutes.
touch-and-go
very uncertain or critical. Things were touch-and-go at the office until a new manager was hired. Jane had a serious operation, and everything was touch-and-go for two days after her surgery.