on the edge

English

Prepositional phrase

on the edge

1. In a precarious position, with one's recourses nearly exhausted.

   Our job as social workers is to help families on the edge.

2. In a state of excitement due to taking risks.

   living on the edge

   • 1990, “Payback”, in Tour of Duty:

     You know, flying a chopper, a helicopter, it's just natural for me. Maybe... just a little exciting? Yes, man. It's great. There's nothing like it. It's on the edge.

3. (with of) With figurative or temporal proximity to (an event, state of mind, etc.).

   The stock market was on the edge of collapse.

   on the edge of lunacy

Synonyms

on the edge of

• on the brink of
• on the verge of

 

Coordinate terms

• on the brink
• on the verge

 

Derived terms

• live on the edge

 

Related terms

• on edge
• on the edge of
• on the edge of one's seat

 

Translations

in a precarious position

• Italian: in bilico, sospeso a un filo, sul filo del rasoio

in a state of excitement due to risk

• Italian: sul filo del rasoio

with figurative proximity to

• Italian: sull'orlo
• Portuguese: à beira de

Further reading

• “on the edge”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “on the edge”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Anagrams

• hedge-note