be on tenterhooks; be filled with anxiety or fear
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to be on tenterhooks; to be filled with anxiety or fear
neutralUsed to describe a state of extreme nervousness, apprehension, or fear about something that might happen. Often implies a prolonged or constant state of worry.
Zì自
cóng从
hái孩
zi子
qù去
wài外
dì地
dú读
shū书
，
mǔ母
qīn亲
měi每
tiān天
dōu都
tí提
xīn心
diào吊
dǎn胆
de的
。
Ever since the child went to study in another city, the mother has been on tenterhooks every day.
Tā他
zuò做
le了
kuī亏
xīn心
shì事
，
zhè这
jǐ几
tiān天
zǒng总
shì是
tí提
xīn心
diào吊
dǎn胆
，
pà怕
bèi被
rén人
fā发
xiàn现
。
He did something wrong, so he has been filled with anxiety these past few days, afraid of being found out.
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Kǎo考
shì试
jié结
guǒ果
méi没
chū出
lái来
zhī之
qián前
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
yǒu有
diǎn点
tí提
xīn心
diào吊
dǎn胆
。
Before the exam results came out, everyone was a bit on edge.
Zài在
xuán悬
yá崖
biān边
de的
zhǎi窄
lù路
shang上
kāi开
chē车
，
sī司
jī机
men们
dōu都
tí提
xīn心
diào吊
dǎn胆
。
Driving on the narrow road by the cliff, the drivers were all extremely apprehensive.