ADJ
correct, equal, even, exact, ideal, necessary, optimum, perfect, proper, right With children, it is important to achieve the right balance between love and discipline comfortable, equitable, excellent, good, happy, harmonious, healthy a healthy balance of foods acceptable, adequate, appropriate, fair, reasonable, sensible How do you find an acceptable balance between closeness and distance in a relationship? careful, delicate, fine, subtle Being a good boss requires a fine balance between kindness and authority fragile, precarious, uneasy overall It is the overall balance of the diet that is important ecological, natural Pulling up all the plants will disturb the natural balance of the pond hormonal, nutritional ethnic, gender, social There is an even gender balance amongst staff and students (= equal numbers of men and women)
VERB + BALANCE
require seek achieve, create, find, strike We need to strike a balance between these conflicting interests keep, maintain, sustain You have to maintain a balance in your life or else you'll go crazy disturb, upset Tourists often disturb the delicate balance of nature on the island redress, restore affect alter, change, shift
PREP
on ~ (= after considering all the information) On balance, the company has had a successful year in ~ It is important to keep the different aspects of your life in balance ~ between the balance between academic and practical work ~ of the balance of animals and plants in the environment
ADJ
changing, shifting military, political
VERB + BALANCE
hold to hold the balance of power (= to be in a position where your support would be just enough to give overall power to one group or another) affect change, shift swing, tilt, tip (= to influence a result/decision) In an interview, smart presentation can tip the balance in your favour
PHRASES
the balance of advantage The balance of advantage has shifted from the unions to employers the balance of forces/power the changing balance of power between the working and middle class checks and balances Democracy depends on a system of checks and balances
VERB + BALANCE
have Gymnasts have excellent balance affect Tightness in one set of muscles will affect your whole balance keep I struggled to keep my balance on my new skates lose She lost her balance and fell recover, regain knock sb off, throw sb off The sudden movement threw him off balance
PHRASES
a sense of balance Cats have a very good sense of balance
ADJ
account, bank cash, money credit, favourable, healthy, positive debit, negative cleared, net Interest is calculated on the daily cleared balance and paid direct to your account opening final, outstanding trade
VERB + BALANCE
have Everyone likes to have a healthy bank balance ask for, request He asked the cashier for the balance of his current account check I'll need to check my bank balance before I spend so much money show achieve be due The final balance is due six weeks before departure pay I'll pay the balance later use The balance of the proceeds will be used for new equipment bring forward, carry forward the balance brought forward from the previous year
BALANCE + NOUN
sheet the company's balance sheet
PHRASES
the balance of payments (= the difference between the amount of money coming into and going out of a country), the balance of trade (= the difference in value between imports and exports)
PREP
on He balanced the glasses carefully on the tray
VERB + BALANCE
have to, need to seek to, try to The plan seeks to balance two important objectives manage to
PREP
against We have to balance the risks of the new strategy against the possible benefits with She tries to balance the needs of her children with those of her employer