anxious seat

American  

[angk-shuhs seet, ang-] / ˈæŋk ʃəs ˌsit, ˈæŋ- /

noun

1. Also called anxious bench.  Chiefly North Atlantic States and Southern and South Midland U.S. a seat reserved at a revival meeting for those troubled by conscience and eager for spiritual assistance.

2. a state of anxiety, especially about the outcome of a vote, negotiation, etc..

   Strikers have been in the anxious seat for the last three days.

---

Etymology

Origin of anxious seat

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Example Sentences

Calvin Coolidge has had everybody on the anxious seat for months as to who he would sup port in the November handicap.

From Time Magazine Archive

Other items which Sir William traces far include: absquatulate, anxious seat, slam bang, cinch, lengthy, maverick, rain check, barn stormer, cowcatcher, calamity howler, greased lightning, rambunctious.

From Time Magazine Archive

Fannie's eyes were wet, tears were welling through Barbara's fingers, mourners were coming up both aisles, and John March was kneeling in the anxious seat.

From John March, Southerner by Cable, George W.

Purposely to keep their unworthy opponents on the anxious seat they did not immediately answer the notice sent them.

From Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore by Lester, Pauline

But if I had time I'd have kept you on the anxious seat a while.

From The Desire of the Moth; and the Come On by Rhodes, Eugene Manlove