on edge

Idioms  

1. Tense, nervous, irritable, as in We were all on edge as we waited for the surgeon's report. This expression transfers the edge of a cutting instrument to one's feelings. [Late 1800s] Also see on the edge; set one's teeth on edge.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on edge

U.S. stock futures nudged higher and Treasury yields slipped slightly in early European trade, but investors remained on edge ahead of crucial inflation data later Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

The majority-black city has been left on edge.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Which means everyone is on edge about how this will go.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

The backlash from residents in the Central Valley to the possibility of even a small-scale data center demonstrates how acutely the issue has put many Americans on edge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

“Okay,” Mark said, his heart thumping, his nerves on edge.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner