dangerous situation; perilous position
Literary expression evoking the image of a stack of eggs that could collapse at any moment. Often used in set phrases like 累卵の危うき (in a situation as precarious as a pile of eggs).
The country's finances are in a perilous position, like a pile of eggs.
pile of eggs
Literal meaning of the kanji; rarely used outside of explaining the metaphor. The figurative sense is the primary modern usage.
The word 累卵 literally refers to a pile of eggs.
From Chinese 累卵 (lěiluǎn), literally 'pile of eggs', used figuratively to describe a precarious situation. The Japanese reading is on'yomi.