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.

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Etymology

Origin of anxious seat

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20

Example Sentences

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

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

A smile illumined his pleasant features as he remembered that Mr. Bobo, like himself, was sitting upon the anxious seat.

From Bunch Grass A Chronicle of Life on a Cattle Ranch by Vachell, Horace Annesley

"Do you think you can hold on?" asked Buck, beginning to lower away with tantalizing slowness, as though he enjoyed keeping Fred on the anxious seat.

From Fred Fenton on the Track or, The Athletes of Riverport School by Chapman, Allen

Well, a man can't catch a team of horses, and that's all there is about it, but I want to tell you he was on the anxious seat for a quarter of a mile.

From Red Saunders His Adventures West & East by Phillips, Henry Wallace