hang on by your fingernails
idiomPart offingernail
hang on by your fingernails — idiom
1. to continue to manage a difficult situation, such as keeping a job or position,
1.idiom
Definition
to continue to manage a difficult situation, such as keeping a job or position, with great effort and difficulty
Example
The small company was hanging on by its fingernails after losing its biggest customer.
Tyler hung on by his fingernails to finish the project before the deadline.