tenir le loup par les oreilles

== French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /tə.niʁ lə lu paʁ le.z‿ɔ.ʁɛj/ === Verb === tenir le loup par les oreilles (figuratively) to have the wolf by the ear (to be in a dangerous situation from which one cannot disengage, but in which one cannot safely remain)