UNIT 6: ON EXPRESSIONS

i hate this bridge somewhat gap that never appears once in real exams

on the verge (of)

If you are on the verge of something or come to the verge of something, you are very close to experiencing it:

on the verge of collapse/success/tears/death/disaster/war

drive someone to the verge (of) Her husband's violent and abusive behaviour drove her to the verge of despair.

<=> on the brink of

on edge

nervous and not relaxed:

Is something wrong? You seem a bit on edge this morning.

on loan

being borrowed from someone or lent to someone:

This exhibit is on loan from another museum.

on first-name terms

friendly or familiar enough with someone to call that person by their first name:

Staff and pupils at the school were on first-name terms.

on course

likely to happen, or likely to succeed as planned:

Because of the recession, we're on course for record unemployment levels.

(all) on sb’s own

without any help:

I did my buttons up all on my own, Dad .

alone:

I like living on my own.

prey on sb’s mind

If a problem preys on your mind, you think about it and worry about it a lot:

I lost my temper with her the other day and it's been preying on my mind ever since.

on speaking terms

friendly enough to talk:

We had an argument, but we’re back on speaking terms now.

on the tip of your tongue

about to be said if you can remember it:

I know her - her name is on the tip of my tongue, but it won't come to me.

on the run

while hurrying to go somewhere:

I eat breakfast on the run if I'm late for work.

on the go

busy and active:

Like most working mothers, she is always on the go.

be on the point of

to be going to do something very soon:

As we were on the point of giving up hope, a letter arrived.

on the edge of your seat

very excited, and giving all your attention to something, because you want to know what is going to happen:

He could no longer keep his eyes open to watch any of the videos which, until quite recently, would have kept him on the edge of his seat.

petty

1. small and unimportant

2. involving crimes that are considered less serious than other types of crime

3. complaining too much about things that are not important

mind, officials, offence

trivial

​not important or serious; not worth considering

injury, offence, mistake

minor

not very large, important or serious

matter, mistake, injury

trifling

small or not important

sum, matter, money

paltry

little quality or value

attempt, salary

vivid

very clear, powerful, and detailed images in the mind

imagination, detail, account

living

still existing, alive now

memory, proof

bright

full of light, shining

light, future, child

color

in all their colours, not just in black and white

television, monitor