To weigh or compare two (or more) things, assessing their relative merits; literally, to put on a balance scale.
転職するか残るか、給料と通勤時間を天秤にかけて決めた。
To decide whether to change jobs or stay, I weighed salary against commuting time.
費用と利益を天秤にかけてプロジェクトを続けるか判断する必要がある。
We need to weigh costs against benefits to decide whether to continue the project.
彼は複数の大学を天秤にかけて、最終的に地元の大学を選んだ。
He compared several universities and ultimately chose the local one.
To try to have it both ways; to play both sides or keep options open in a self-serving way—i.e., juggling two choices for one's own advantage.
彼は取引先と労働組合のどちらにもいい顔をして、常に立場を天秤にかけているようだ。
He flatters both the client and the union, always trying to balance his position for advantage.
会社は短期の利益と長期の評判を天秤にかけて決断する必要があるが、両方を取ろうとすると信用を失うことがある。
A company must weigh short-term profit against long-term reputation; trying to take both can cost trust.
彼女は恋愛と仕事を天秤にかけて決めかねている。
She can't decide because she's weighing love against her career.