Risky or critical (5,3,2) Crossword Clue
Answer: TOUCH AND GO (10 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Risky or critical (5,3,2)" with 10 letters is "TOUCH AND GO".Touch and go refers to a situation that is risky or critical, where the outcome is uncertain or precarious. It describes moments of high tension or danger where success or failure is closely balanced, such as in a life-or-death scenario or a highly competitive event.
Why “Touch and Go” Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (5,3,2) meaning “risky or critical.” The answer, TOUCH AND GO, fits perfectly:
- Risky or critical: Touch and go describes a situation that is uncertain, precarious, or finely balanced between success and failure — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: The phrase fits the required enumeration (5,3,2) precisely.
- Precise meaning: The idiom expresses a sense of narrow margin or high risk, often used when the outcome could change at any moment.
Touch and go is an old English expression rooted in both maritime and land-based origins:
Origin and usage:
- First recorded in the early 1800s, touch and go was originally a nautical term describing a ship barely touching the ground before continuing its course — a close call but no disaster.
- Later, the phrase was extended metaphorically to describe any situation where things could go either way, implying imminent danger or delicate circumstances.
Modern meaning:
- Commonly used to refer to critical or uncertain moments, particularly where outcomes hang in the balance — “It was touch and go whether the patient would survive.”
- Can also describe near misses or finely judged actions — “The car made it through the gap; it was touch and go.”
Examples:
- “After the operation, it was touch and go for several hours.”
- “The rescue mission was touch and go, depending on the weather.”
- “It was touch and go whether they would reach the summit before nightfall.”
In quick crosswords like “Risky or critical (5,3,2),” idiomatic phrases often appear, testing knowledge of common English expressions:
Definition: The entire phrase “risky or critical” defines touch and go as describing a dangerous or uncertain situation.
Clue type: Straightforward definition — no cryptic construction or wordplay.
Solving approach:
- Look for familiar idioms describing danger, chance, or uncertainty (such as on edge, iffy, shaky, touch and go).
- The enumeration (5,3,2) immediately suggests a three-part phrase, which matches the rhythm and form of touch and go.
Crossword pattern: Many crossword clues use touch and go to signify risk, fragility, or narrow escapes due to its versatile idiomatic nature.
