teeter on the brink of (something)
To be very close to doing something or of having some imminent event happen, especially that which is bad or disastrous. The company is still doing business, but ever since the recession hit, they've been teetering on the brink of closing down. The crew are so maddened by the cuts to their pay that everyone is teetering on the brink of mutiny.
teeter on the edge of (something)
To be very close to doing something or of having some imminent event happen, especially that which is bad or disastrous. The company is still doing business, but ever since the recession hit, they've been teetering on the edge of closing down. The crew are so maddened by the cuts to their pay that everyone is teetering on the edge of mutiny.
teeter-totter
"Teeter-totter," another name for a seesaw, is a long, balanced plank that two people ride together, one on each end. When one of the riders pushes off the ground with their feet, their end of the plank tilts up into the air. Primarily heard in US.
1. To balance precariously on something. I grabbed Billy the second I noticed him teeter-tottering on the edge of the step.
2. To be in an especially precarious position. The company has teeter-tottered on the edge of financial ruin for the last couple of years.
3. To vacillate between two options, conditions, or situations. Of course the senator is going to teeter-totter on this controversial bill until the last minute. He doesn't want to announce his vote and anger his constituents before he has to.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.