edge

at/on the cutting edge

in the area of a subject or activity where the most recent changes and developments are happening. New, young, Italian designers are at the cutting edge of fashion. (often + of)

See also: cutting

be on edge

to be nervous or worried about something. The players were all a little on edge before the big game.

be on the ragged edge (American)

to be so tired or upset that you feel you cannot deal with a situation. Top professional coaches are on the ragged edge of exhaustion and frustration.

See also: ragged

fray around/at the edges

to start to become less effective or successful. This songwriting partnership began to fray at the edges after both partners got married.

See also: around, fray

have the edge on/over someone/something

to be slightly better than someone or something else. He's got the edge over other teachers because he's so much more experienced. The new Renault has the edge on other similar models - it's larger and cheaper.

See also: over

keep someone on the edge of their seat (British, American & Australian, American)

if a story keeps you on the edge of your seat, it is very exciting and you want to know what is going to happen next. You must rent this video. It keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the end.

See also: keep, seat

live on the edge

to have a type of life in which you are often involved in exciting or dangerous activities. If you were always living on the edge like that I'm sure you wouldn't live past the age of sixty.

See also: live

lose your edge

to lose the qualities or skills that made you successful in the past. She's still competing, but she's two years older now and she's lost her edge.

See also: lose

on a knife-edge

if a person or organization is on a knife-edge, they are in a difficult situation and are worried about what will happen in the future. She's been living on a knife-edge since her ex-husband was released from prison last month. The theatre is on a financial knife-edge and must sell 75% of its seats every night to survive.

push/drive someone over the edge (informal)

if an unpleasant event pushes someone over the edge, it makes them start to behave in a crazy way. She had been driven over the edge by the separation from her husband.

See also: drive, over, push

put someone on edge

be on edge - to be nervous or worried about something. Knowing that I might be called on to answer a question at any point always puts me on edge.

rough edges

1. if a piece of work or a performance has rough edges, some parts of it are not of very good quality. He's a great footballer, but his game still has a few rough edges.

2. if a person has rough edges, they do not always behave well and politely. I knew him before he was successful, and he had a lot of rough edges back then.

See also: rough

take the edge off something

to make something unpleasant have less of an effect on someone. Have an apple. It'll take the edge off your hunger for a while. His apology took the edge off her anger.

See also: take

---

keep you on the edge of your seat

to make you very excited or nervous because of uncertainty. It was one of those movies that was so suspenseful, it kept you on the edge of your seat right through to the end.

See also: keep, seat

lose your edge

to no longer have the determination or skills that made you successful in the past. Long ago, Foster figured out you could act like a gentleman and still not lose your edge.

See also: lose

on edge

nervous or worried. You're always on edge waiting for an important call, because you don't really know when that phone will ring.

Usage notes: often used in the forms set you on edge or put you on edge: The accident set us on edge for several days.

set your teeth on edge

on the cutting edge (of something)

in front of others with what is new. Some people on the cutting edge of fashion have one strip of hair dyed one color and the rest another color. University Hospital is at the cutting edge of medical technology.

Usage notes: also used in the form on the edge: This band used to be on the edge, but it's much less exciting these days.

See also: cutting

(live) on the edge

1. to be in an uncertain situation or one that could cause harm. I do not believe a person has to live on the edge in order to be a creative artist.

2. to be very poor. Too many children live on the edge, without proper food or medical care.

over the edge

into a condition of extreme emotional or mental suffering. I worry that someone as upset as she is could easily be pushed over the edge and cause herself great harm.

See also: over

set your teeth on edge

to annoy you or make you feel nervous or uncomfortable. Jason used his knife to scratch our initials into the wall, which was nice to do but made a noise that set my teeth on edge.

on edge

See also: set, teeth

take the edge off something

to reduce the effect of something, esp. something unpleasant. Ceiling fans can take the edge off summer heat. The memorial service didn't bring my husband back to life, but it took the edge off my sorrow.

See also: take