Eking out, retaining fodder, in critical position (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
knife edge
'critical position' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'eking out retaining fodder' is the wordplay.
'out' is an anagram indicator (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'retaining' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or retained).
'fodder' becomes 'feed' (fodder is animal feed).
'eking' with letters rearranged gives 'knige'.
'knige' enclosing 'feed' is 'KNIFE-EDGE'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for knife edge that I've seen before include "dangerous situation" , "position of great danger" , "perilous place on which to be" , "Tense situation" , "Narrow ridge" .)