Meaning of on tenterhooks | Babel Free

Definitions

In a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles; on the rack.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“I made no reply⟳, but left him upon the tenter-hooks of impatient uncertainty.”

“If I were efficient to the point⟳ of crankiness, I suppose⟳ I should come⟳ out at any hour between midnight and reveille, and so keep⟳ the guard on tenterhooks, and make⟳ the tour as hard for them as I could.”

“Having ordered a light⟳ repast, to the consternation of the waiter, they awaited its arrival together with that of Mr. Bellby, in silent reaction after the hour and a half's suspense on the tenterhooks of publicity.”

“Why do you keep⟳ me on tenterhooks like⟳ this, putting me off and off?”

“A 30-hour search⟳ for an escaped lioness that had residents on the southern fringes of Berlin shelter⟳ in their homes and the rest⟳ of the German capital on tenterhooks has found that what was thought to be an exotic feline predator was most likely a common wild pig.”

CEFR level