累るい卵らん

noun

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).

• その国くにの財ざい政せいは累るい卵らんの危あやうきにある。

  The country's finances are in a perilous position, like a pile of eggs.

noun

pile of eggs

Literal meaning of the kanji; rarely used outside of explaining the metaphor. The figurative sense is the primary modern usage.

• 「累るい卵らん」という言こと葉ばは、文も字じ通どおりには積つみ重かさねた卵たまごを指さす。

  The word 累卵 literally refers to a pile of eggs.