Have you ever been in a precarious position? Maybe you are faced with an impossible choice that can lead you to ruin or salvation. Do you like living your life on the brink of danger? If so, then on the edge is an apt expression that may apply to you. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
When you are on the edge you are essentially on the precipice of an action or event. Another way to explain the meaning is that you are close to doing something, or something is close to happening. On the edge is considered a precarious, or unstable position, both in positive and negative terms. In most cases, it is alluded to being a dangerous activity, or a way of living that skirts danger.
Being on edge is commonly mistaken for being on the edge. While the former means to be nervous, the latter means very close to. On the edge is another way to explain always feeling keenly excited, or in a state of high adrenaline.
Example Usage
“John was on the edge of bankruptcy for almost two years until he landed his new job”.
“Your behavior keeps me on the edge of sanity”.
“With so much work and very little downtime, I am always on the edge of being burned out”.
“Jane was on the edge of telling me all about the upcoming test, but you walked in and she forgot”.
Origin
The word edge is an Old English word that features Proto-Germanic roots. There are various spellings of the word depending on where the world it was first encountered. The word has been paired with a variety of others to expand its meaning over the years. Get the edge on, to be on edge, to give an edge, and so on have been around since 13c.
The actual phrase “on the edge” has been around for a few hundred years, but its exact origin is unknown. It became a popular saying in the 1620s and still remains widely used even today. The phrase is linked with being at a tipping point or living a life of risk, which has always been popular.
Phrases Similar to On The Edge
- Teetering on the brink
- Hover on the edge
- On the verge of
- Perplexed
- Confused
- Unstable
Phrases Opposite to On The Edge
- Stable
- Calculated
- Ready and committed
- Well planned
- On the cuff
- On the face of it
- On the defensive
What is the Correct Saying?
- The correct saying is – “on the edge”.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say On The Edge
The most common mistake people make when using the phrase is mistaking it for “on edge”, which has a different meaning. People may also use the phrase “on the edge” when they mean to use “on edge”. Some ways that on the edge is used incorrectly are:
- I hate how he is always on the edge when his parents are around.
- Instead of always being on the edge, try to relax and think about something more pleasant.
- After last night’s performance, the team is on edge of securing the World Series.
- Try to make up your mind, you can’t stay on edge of success your whole life.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase On The Edge
On the edge can mean someone is on the verge of action, or that they like danger. The context is key when using this phrase. Some ways that on the edge is used correctly are:
- The election is on the edge of being announced in favor of the Democrats.
- Right before the cheating scandal was released, Kim was on the edge of becoming the class president.
- He likes to live his life fully on the edge, it’s a dangerous way to be, but full of rewards.
- Marines are highly skilled in their craft, but they live on the edge of morality when it comes to actual application.
on the edge of (something)
Very close to doing something or of having some imminent event happen, especially that which is bad or disastrous. The company is still doing business, but ever since the recession hit, they’ve been teetering on the edge of closing down. The crew are so maddened by the cuts to their pay that everyone is on the edge of mutiny.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*on the edge
Fig. very anxious and about to become distraught; on the verge of becoming irrational. (*Typically: be ~; live ~. See also on edge.) After the horrible events of the last week, we are all on the edge.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
on the edge
1. In a precarious position; also, in a state of keen excitement, as from danger or risk. For example, When the stock market crashed, their whole future was on the edge, or Skydivers obviously must enjoy living on the edge.
2. on the edge of. On the point of doing something, as in He was on the edge of winning the election when the sex scandal broke. [c. 1600] Both def. 1 and 2 allude to the danger of falling over the edge of a precipice.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
on the edge
1. In a precarious position.
2. In a state of keen excitement, as from danger or risk: «the excitement of combat, of living on the edge» (Nelson DeMille).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
- on the edge of (something)
- teeter
- teeter on the brink
- teeter on the brink of (something)
- teeter on the brink/edge of something
- teeter on the edge of (something)
- be on the edge of (something)
- brink
- on the brink
- on the brink of (something)
These examples may contain rude words based on your search.
These examples may contain colloquial words based on your search.
Suggestions
You’ll see the direction of travel using the internal compass, which is displayed as a small red arrow on the edge near the bezel.
Вы увидите направление движения, используя внутренний компас, который отображается как небольшая красная стрелка на краю около лицевой панели.
So whether you find yourself in the middle or on the edge is also partially heritable.
То есть, [оказался] человек в середине или на краю — тоже фактор частично наследственный.
They can be politicians who work on the edge between politics and analytics.
Это могут быть политики, которые работают на грани между политикой и аналитикой.
He lives on the edge between civilization and nature, considers himself a right punish people.
Он живёт на грани между цивилизацией и природой, считает себя в праве наказывать людей.
If you like to live on the edge and belong to the second group, good news for you.
Если вы любите жить на острие и относитесь ко второй группе, для вас хорошие новости.
And this is a guy… he seems to be on the edge.
И этот человек… кажется, он — на грани.
This is what living on the edge means.
Even now, standing on the edge.
I think she might be… on the edge.
Думаю, она может быть… на грани.
Right on the edge between toy and weapon, like a. caliber rifle.
Прямо на грани между оружием и игрушкой, как винтовка 22-го калибра.
I feel like you’re on the edge here.
Я чувствую, что ты находишься на краю.
The deceased could’ve been sitting on the edge, fallen in after drinking too much.
Он мог просто сидеть на краю, а потом упасть после выпитого алкоголя.
It was on the edge, and I…
The cliff was digitally redesigned in post-production to appear as if the actors were standing on the edge.
Скала была на компьютере переделана во время пост-продакшна, чтобы выглядело так, как будто актёры стояли на краю.
I ostvlyayu behind him on the edge.
Я оствляю его за собой на краю.
Likes to live on the edge, take risks.
A so-called double-twisted surface is formed on the edge.
На грани возникает так называемая двойная перекрученная плоскость.
Forgive me if I’m on the edge.
Прости меня, если я уже на грани…
I stood there trembling right on the edge.
And here I thought I was living on the edge.
Suggestions that contain on the edge
Results: 786. Exact: 786. Elapsed time: 312 ms.
Documents
Corporate solutions
Conjugation
Synonyms
Grammar Check
Help & about
Word index: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900
Expression index: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
Phrase index: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
- Top Definitions
- Quiz
- Related Content
- Examples
In a precarious position; also, in a state of keen excitement, as from danger or risk. For example, When the stock market crashed, their whole future was on the edge, or Skydivers obviously must enjoy living on the edge.
on the edge of. On the point of doing something, as in He was on the edge of winning the election when the sex scandal broke. [c. 1600] Both def. 1 and 2 allude to the danger of falling over the edge of a precipice.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Words nearby on the edge
on the contrary, on the cuff, on the defensive, on the dot, on the double, on the edge, on the eve of, on the face of it, on the fly, on the fritz, on the go
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Words related to on the edge
How to use on the edge in a sentence
-
Nobody knew what to expect when he raced: an on-the-edge win, spectacular crash, or one of his amazing recoveries.
- Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.
WordReference не может перевести именно такую фразу, но можно нажать на каждое слово по отдельности и узнать их значения:
WordReference English-Russian Dictionary © 2023:
| Главные переводы | ||
| английский | русский | |
| edge n | (limit, border, extremity) | край м |
| (о местности) | окраина ж | |
| (о ткани, предметах) | кромка ж | |
| (о лесе) | опушка ж | |
| The glass was set on the edge of the table. | ||
| Стакан поставили на край стола. | ||
| edge n | (competitive advantage) | преимущество ср |
| The home team had an edge over its opponents because it was taller. | ||
| У хозяев поля имелось преимущество, потому что игроки были выше. |
Collins Russian Dictionary 2nd Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2000, 1997:
edge [ɛdʒ]
n край#; (of knife etc) остриё#
vt (trim) окаймля́ть (окайми́ть*perf)
vi
to edge forward ме́дленно продвига́ться (продви́нуться perf)
on edge (fig) = edgy
to have the edge on име́ть (impf) преиму́щество пе́ред +instr
to edge past проти́снуться (perf)
to edge away from отходи́ть*(отойти́*perf) бочко́м от +gen
to edge up (COMM) незначи́тельно изменя́ться
* is used to mark translations which have irregular inflections. The Russian-English side of the dictionary gives inflectional information.
‘on the edge‘ также найдено в этих статьях:
Русский: