tenterhook

American  

[ten-ter-hook] / ˈtɛn tərˌhʊk /

noun

1. one of the hooks or bent nails that hold cloth stretched on a tenter.

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idioms

1. on tenterhooks, in a state of uneasy suspense or painful anxiety.

   The movie keeps one on tenterhooks until the very last moment.

tenterhook British  

/ ˈtɛntəˌhʊk /

noun

1. one of a series of hooks or bent nails used to hold cloth stretched on a tenter

2. in a state of tension or suspense

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Usage

What does tenterhook mean? A tenterhook is a hook used to attach cloth to a tenter—a frame on which cloth is stretched during the manufacturing process so that it can keep its shape while drying.Tenterhooks are no longer widely used in cloth manufacturing, and the word tenterhook is now almost exclusively used in the metaphorical phrase on tenterhooks, meaning in a state of painfully anxious suspense or tension. Being on tenterhooks typically involves being extremely nervous while awaiting the outcome of a tense situation, such as a close election, an exciting sports game, or a horror movie.Example: I’ve been on tenterhooks all morning waiting for the doctor’s office to call back with my test results.

Etymology

Origin of tenterhook

First recorded in 1470–80; tenter + hook ¹

Example Sentences

The turn of the New Year came with a new series of The Traitors and to no surprise, plot twists are leaving viewers on tenterhooks.

From BBC

Back in the current Archers timeline, fans were left on tenterhooks by the cliffhanger broadcast on New Year's Eve, when a dramatic attack shook the village.

From BBC

As a way to find joy, she said, in a time when news and world events have us all on tenterhooks.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I shall be on tenterhooks to hear what you have to say tomorrow.”

From Literature

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards are mere days away and, as someone who regularly writes about them, I’m trying to locate my tenterhooks, but it’s a bit tough this year.

From Los Angeles Times