"on the edge" meaning in English

See on the edge in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Prepositional phrase

Head templates: {{head|en|prepositional phrase|head=}} on the edge, {{en-PP}} on the edge
  1. In a precarious position, with one's recourses nearly exhausted. Synonyms: 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 Translations (in a precarious position): in bilico (Italian), sospeso a un filo (Italian), sul filo del rasoio (Italian)
    Sense id: en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-xe-koGpy Disambiguation of 'in a precarious position': 85 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)
    Sense id: en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-sF3GPeOk Disambiguation of 'in a state of excitement due to risk': 2 93 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), à beira de (Portuguese)
    Sense id: en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-AwDQBxZg Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 31 2 67 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 31 4 66 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 27 4 69 Disambiguation of 'with figurative proximity to': 5 1 94

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for on the edge meaning in English (3.5kB)

{
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "prepositional phrase",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "on the edge",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "on the edge",
      "name": "en-PP"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "prep_phrase",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "56 34 10",
          "word": "on the brink"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "56 34 10",
          "word": "on the verge"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "_dis1": "51 37 11",
          "word": "live on the edge"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Our job as social workers is to help families on the edge.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In a precarious position, with one's recourses nearly exhausted."
      ],
      "id": "en-on_the_edge-en-prep_phrase-xe-koGpy",
      "links": [
        [
          "precarious",
          "precarious"
        ],
        [
          "recourse",
          "recourse"
        ],
        [
          "exhaust",
          "exhaust"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "51 37 11",
          "word": "on edge"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "51 37 11",
          "word": "on the edge of"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "51 37 11",
          "word": "on the edge of one's seat"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "50 38 11",
          "word": "on the brink of"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "50 38 11",
          "word": "on the verge of"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "85 14 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "in bilico"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 14 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "sospeso a un filo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "85 14 0",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "in a precarious position",
          "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "living on the edge",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "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 93 5",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
          "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "31 2 67",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 4 66",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "27 4 69",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "The stock market was on the edge of collapse.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "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": "5 1 94",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "sull'orlo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "5 1 94",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
          "word": "à beira de"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "on the edge"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English idioms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English prepositional phrases",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys"
  ],
  "coordinate_terms": [
    {
      "word": "on the brink"
    },
    {
      "word": "on the verge"
    }
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "live on the edge"
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "prepositional phrase",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "on the edge",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "on the edge",
      "name": "en-PP"
    }
  ],
  "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": [
        {
          "text": "Our job as social workers is to help families on the edge.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "In a precarious position, with one's recourses nearly exhausted."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "precarious",
          "precarious"
        ],
        [
          "recourse",
          "recourse"
        ],
        [
          "exhaust",
          "exhaust"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "living on the edge",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "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": [
        {
          "text": "The stock market was on the edge of collapse.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "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": [
    {
      "word": "on the brink of"
    },
    {
      "word": "on the verge of"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "in bilico"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "sospeso a un filo"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "in a precarious position",
      "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "in a state of excitement due to risk",
      "word": "sul filo del rasoio"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "sull'orlo"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "with figurative proximity to",
      "word": "à beira de"
    }
  ],
  "word": "on the edge"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). 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.