Tightrope walking inexperienced funambulists will often walk barefoot so that the wire can be grasped between the big and second toe. This is more often done when using a rope, as the softer and silkier fibres are less taxing on the bare foot than the harder and more abrasive braided wire. The word "funambulism" or the phrase ""walking a tightrope"" is also used in a metaphorical setting not referring to any actual acrobatic acts. For instance, politicians are said to "walk a tightrope" when trying to balance two opposing views with little room for compromise. The term can also be used in
Four-letter word letters. Typical examples include the word "work", implying that work can be unpleasant, or the game of "golf", jokingly referred to as a four-letter word when a player's pastime becomes an exercise in frustration. "Charlotte Observer" journalist Doug Robarchek noted in 1993 how many politicians have names with four letters, "Ever notice how many U.S. politicians have names that are also four-letter words? Ford, Dole, Duke, Bush, Gore ... and how many make us think of four-letter words?" Four-letter word The phrase four-letter word refers to a set of English-language words written with four letters which are considered profane, including