"on the edge" meaning in All languages combined

See on the edge on Wiktionary

Prepositional phrase [English]

  1. In a precarious position, with one's resources nearly exhausted. Translations (in a precarious position): in bilico (Italian), sospeso a un filo (Italian), sul filo del rasoio (Italian), na granicy (Polish), na krawędzi (Polish), na skraju (Polish)
    Sense id: en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-lmFgf7T2 Disambiguation of 'in a precarious position': 86 14 0
  2. In a state of excitement due to taking risks. Translations (in a state of excitement due to risk): sul filo del rasoio (Italian), na granicy (Polish), na krawędzi (Polish), na skraju (Polish)
    Sense id: en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-sF3GPeOk Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Spanish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 18 80 2 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 14 86 0 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 12 88 0 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 5 95 0 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 7 93 0 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 12 85 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 9 88 3 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 5 95 0 Disambiguation of 'in a state of excitement due to risk': 2 94 5
  3. (with of) With figurative or temporal proximity to (an event, state of mind, etc.). Tags: with-of Translations (with figurative proximity to): sull'orlo (Italian), na granicy (Polish), na krawędzi (Polish), na skraju (Polish), à beira de (Portuguese), al borde (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-AwDQBxZg Disambiguation of 'with figurative proximity to': 1 1 98
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms (on the edge of): on the brink of, on the verge of Derived forms: live on the edge Related terms: on edge, on the edge of, on the edge of one's seat Coordinate_terms: on the brink, on the verge
Disambiguation of 'on the edge of': 0 100 0

Alternative forms

{
  "coordinate_terms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "word": "on the brink"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "word": "on the verge"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "word": "live on the edge"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "prep_phrase",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "word": "on edge"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "word": "on the edge of"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "word": "on the edge of one's seat"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              46,
              57
            ]
          ],
          "text": "Our job as social workers is to help families on the edge.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In a precarious position, with one's resources nearly exhausted."
      ],
      "id": "en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-lmFgf7T2",
      "links": [
        [
          "precarious",
          "precarious"
        ],
        [
          "resources",
          "resource"
        ],
        [
          "exhaust",
          "exhaust"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "86 14 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "lang_code": "it",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "in bilico"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 14 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "lang_code": "it",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "sospeso a un filo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 14 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "lang_code": "it",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 14 0",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "na granicy"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 14 0",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "na krawędzi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "86 14 0",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "na skraju"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "18 80 2",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 86 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 88 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 95 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 93 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 85 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 88 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 95 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              7,
              18
            ]
          ],
          "text": "living on the edge",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              153,
              164
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1990, “Payback”, in Tour of Duty:",
          "text": "You know, flying a chopper, a helicopter, it's just natural for me. Maybe... just a little exciting? Yes, man. It's great. There's nothing like it. It's on the edge.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In a state of excitement due to taking risks."
      ],
      "id": "en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-sF3GPeOk",
      "links": [
        [
          "excitement",
          "excitement"
        ],
        [
          "taking risks",
          "take a risk"
        ]
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "2 94 5",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "lang_code": "it",
          "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
          "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 94 5",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
          "word": "na granicy"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 94 5",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
          "word": "na krawędzi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 94 5",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
          "word": "na skraju"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              21,
              32
            ]
          ],
          "text": "The stock market was on the edge of collapse.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              11
            ]
          ],
          "text": "on the edge of lunacy",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "With figurative or temporal proximity to (an event, state of mind, etc.)."
      ],
      "id": "en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-AwDQBxZg",
      "links": [
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ],
        [
          "figurative",
          "figurative"
        ],
        [
          "temporal",
          "temporal"
        ],
        [
          "proximity",
          "proximity"
        ],
        [
          "event",
          "event"
        ],
        [
          "state of mind",
          "state of mind"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(with of) With figurative or temporal proximity to (an event, state of mind, etc.)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "with-of"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 98",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "lang_code": "it",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "sull'orlo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 98",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "na granicy"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 98",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "na krawędzi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 98",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "na skraju"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 98",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "à beira de"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 98",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "al borde"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "sense": "on the edge of",
      "word": "on the brink of"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 100 0",
      "sense": "on the edge of",
      "word": "on the verge of"
    }
  ],
  "word": "on the edge"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English idioms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English prepositional phrases",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations"
  ],
  "coordinate_terms": [
    {
      "word": "on the brink"
    },
    {
      "word": "on the verge"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "live on the edge"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "prep_phrase",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "on edge"
    },
    {
      "word": "on the edge of"
    },
    {
      "word": "on the edge of one's seat"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              46,
              57
            ]
          ],
          "text": "Our job as social workers is to help families on the edge.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In a precarious position, with one's resources nearly exhausted."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "precarious",
          "precarious"
        ],
        [
          "resources",
          "resource"
        ],
        [
          "exhaust",
          "exhaust"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              7,
              18
            ]
          ],
          "text": "living on the edge",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              153,
              164
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "1990, “Payback”, in Tour of Duty:",
          "text": "You know, flying a chopper, a helicopter, it's just natural for me. Maybe... just a little exciting? Yes, man. It's great. There's nothing like it. It's on the edge.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In a state of excitement due to taking risks."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "excitement",
          "excitement"
        ],
        [
          "taking risks",
          "take a risk"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              21,
              32
            ]
          ],
          "text": "The stock market was on the edge of collapse.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              11
            ]
          ],
          "text": "on the edge of lunacy",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "With figurative or temporal proximity to (an event, state of mind, etc.)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "of",
          "of#English"
        ],
        [
          "figurative",
          "figurative"
        ],
        [
          "temporal",
          "temporal"
        ],
        [
          "proximity",
          "proximity"
        ],
        [
          "event",
          "event"
        ],
        [
          "state of mind",
          "state of mind"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(with of) With figurative or temporal proximity to (an event, state of mind, etc.)."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "with-of"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "on the edge of",
      "word": "on the brink of"
    },
    {
      "sense": "on the edge of",
      "word": "on the verge of"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "in bilico"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "sospeso a un filo"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "na granicy"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "na krawędzi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "na skraju"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
      "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
      "word": "na granicy"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
      "word": "na krawędzi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
      "word": "na skraju"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "sull'orlo"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "na granicy"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "na krawędzi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "na skraju"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "à beira de"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "al borde"
    }
  ],
  "word": "on the edge"
}

Download raw JSONL data for on the edge meaning in All languages combined (4.3kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-20 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (d6fca27 and 65e1673). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.