on the edge
Idioms-
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.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Messi and Co. were teetering on the edge not only of defeat, but of suffering the most ignominious upset in the 96-year history of the tournament.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 4, 2026
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove said the lawmaker was unaware that the post office, which was on the edge of her district, had been closed until informed by The Times last week.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026
However, there were sightings of the species in hawthorn and blackthorn trees on the edge of London in June 2023.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
"As we stand on the edge of our 250th year of independence, I am thrilled to declare that America is back," Trump said, reworking a familiar rallying cry.
From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026
After lunch they all lay on the edge of the beach.
From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
