on tenterhooks
prep_phraseUK /ˌɒn ˈtɛntəhʊks/ · US /ˌɔn ˈtɛntəɹˌhʊks/
Etymology Metaphorically stretched taut, like a piece of cloth on a tenter (“a framework upon which cloth is stretched and dried”) secured by tenterhooks. First attested in the mid-1700s.
1
Idiomatic In a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles; on the rack.
- I made no reply, but left him upon the tenter-hooks of impatient uncertainty.[1748, [Tobias Smollett], “I Enquire about My Uncle, and Understand He is Gone to Sea— […]”, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume I, London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, page 94:
- 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.1894, George Israel Putnam, On the Offensive: An Army Story, page 49, lines 14–18:
3 more examples
- 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.1920, John Galsworthy, “Dartie versus Dartie”, in In Chancery (The Forsyte Saga; 2), London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, part II, page 187:
- Why do you keep me on tenterhooks like this, putting me off and off?1921 September, John Galsworthy, “Caprice”, in To Let, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 114:
- 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.2023 July 21, Philip Oltermann, “Escaped ‘lioness’ in Berlin was most likely a wild boar, mayor says”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Nov 2023:
- Related terms
- like a cat on a hot tin roof, shpilkes