tenterhooks

tenterhooks
ten|ter|hooks [ˈtentəhuks US -ər-] n especially BrE
[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: tenterhook 'sharp nail for fastening cloth on a tenter' (15-20 centuries), from tenter 'frame for drying and stretching cloth' (13-20 centuries) (from Medieval Latin tentura, from Latin tendere; TEND) + hook]
be on tenterhooks
to feel nervous and excited because you are waiting to find out something or for something to happen
She had been on tenterhooks all night, expecting Joe to return at any moment.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • tenterhooks — (n.) late 15c., one of the hooks that holds cloth on a tenter, from TENTER (Cf. tenter) + HOOK (Cf. hook) (n.). The figurative phrase on tenterhooks in painful suspense is from 1748; earlier to be on tenters (1530s) …   Etymology dictionary

  • tenterhooks — n. on tenterhooks ( in suspense ) * * * on tenterhooks ( in suspense ) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • tenterhooks — [[t]te̱ntə(r)hʊks[/t]] PHRASE: v link PHR If you are on tenterhooks, you are very nervous and excited because you are wondering what is going to happen in a particular situation. He was still on tenterhooks waiting for his directors decision… …   English dictionary

  • tenterhooks — noun be on tenterhooks to feel nervous and excited because you are waiting for something: She had been on tenterhooks all night, expecting Joe to return at any moment …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • tenterhooks — ten|ter|hooks [ tentər,huks ] noun on tenterhooks nervous because you do not know what is going to happen …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tenterhooks — [15] A tenterhook is one of a set of hooks used to hold cloth taut on a frame during manufacture, especially while its dries (tenter comes from medieval Latin tentorium, a derivative of Latin tendere ‘stretch’). The metaphorical use of on… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • tenterhooks — in a state of suspense or strain because of uncertainty They have been on tenterhooks all week while waiting for the decision about the Olympics …   Idioms and examples

  • tenterhooks — on tenterhooks …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • tenterhooks — UK [ˈtentə(r)ˌhʊks] / US [ˈtentərˌhʊks] noun on tenterhooks …   English dictionary

  • tenterhooks — [15] A tenterhook is one of a set of hooks used to hold cloth taut on a frame during manufacture, especially while its dries (tenter comes from medieval Latin tentorium, a derivative of Latin tendere ‘stretch’). The metaphorical use of on… …   Word origins

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