Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

On edge

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "On edge" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourEmotions & Reactions collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Emotions & Reactions

On edge

On edge
Tense, nervous, irritable, or anxious; in a state of heightened sensitivity or anticipation.
History & Origin

The idiom originally dates back to the late 15th or early 16th century, stemming from the physical sensation of one's teeth being 'set on edge' by a harsh, grating noise or an acidic taste. Over time, the phrase was shortened to 'on edge' and its meaning broadened from a specific physical shudder to a general state of psychological tension or nervous irritability.

Examples
Workplace Email

Everyone in the department has been a bit on edge while waiting for the final corporate restructuring announcement.

Casual Conversation

Sorry if I snapped at you earlier; I didn't sleep well last night and I've just been on edge all day.

Academic Writing

Sociological studies indicate that prolonged financial instability consistently keeps low-income households on edge, severely impacting long-term mental well-being.

News/Media

The sudden escalation of geopolitical tensions has left regional markets on edge, causing volatile trading sessions throughout the week.

Formal Speech

During periods of rapid societal transition, communities are naturally on edge, requiring empathetic leadership to maintain public trust.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After a relaxing two-week massage therapy and yoga retreat in the mountains, Sarah felt completely on edge.

B. The loud, unexpected banging of the loose shutter outside kept the old man on edge throughout the stormy night.

C. To improve the flavor of the soup, the chef decided to put a little bit of on edge into the simmering broth.

D. James walked very carefully because he didn't want to fall off the on edge of the steep cliff.