在千鈞一髮之際

在千钧一发之际
zàiqiānjūnyīfàzhījì
at the critical moment; in the nick of time

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 在 zài
  1. to exist; to be alive
  2. (of sb or sth) to be (located) at
  3. (used before a verb to indicate an action in progress)
2 千鈞一髮 qiānjūnyīfà
  1. lit. a thousand pounds hangs by a thread (idiom)
  2. fig. (at the) critical; perilous (moment)
3 之際 zhījì
  1. during
  2. at the time of