Possible Clues:

• With no play area at first, game is in the balance
• Hairy bird eating hot dog naughtily
• Unpredictable
• Iffy
• Uncertain to request a loan with advance
• Close but brief contact
• Copper about to join worker in African country? That's risky
• Make contact and start being close
• One given big bill swallows hard, then departs — to leave is very risky
• A critical situation