on the bubble
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]US, late 20th century, from Indiana motor racing.
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Prepositional phrase
[edit]- (motor racing) Holding the last qualifying position with qualification still in progress, and thus liable to lose that position.
- Smith was on the bubble but lost out when Jones was faster by a tenth of a second.
- (sports) Having qualification for an event depend on the upcoming performances of other competitors; hence, at risk of being eliminated, and reversely, being close to qualification; on the verge.
- The Knights had been on the bubble for the tournament, but played their way in by winning their last five games.
- 2006, Dan Harrington, Bill Robertie, Harrington on Hold 'Em::
- Most players play pretty loose on the bubble, much looser than they theoretically should, and even if I saw an opponent sitting out a few hands, it's more likely that he just hit a run of low cards than that he turned into a locksmith at this stage.
- 2009, Dick Couch, The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class, page 228:
- Lewis and Marc Luttrell are on the bubble because they have yet to make the timed run in Third Phase, but they make this one.
- (idiomatic) Uncertain of success.
- The new bond issue now appears to be on the bubble, with support eroding.
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, bubble.
- 2004, David D. Moon, Carbon Dating, Cold Fusion, and a Curve Ball, page 109:
- Among other aspects of bubble measurement, the researchers were interested in measuring the size of the bubble with a laser scattering technique. A laser is shone on the bubble, which scatters the light.