Hang in the balance

PEND

Think of a short word describing something suspended or undecided, like a matter awaiting a final court ruling. It also shares a root with "pendulum."

"Hang in the balance" hints at something suspended or undecided, which directly points to "pend"—a word meaning to be pending or hanging. The clue plays on the literal sense of hanging (like a pendulum) while also suggesting an unresolved state, as in "pending." It’s a neat double meaning where the word itself fits both interpretations perfectly.