On Edge, On the Edge, and Over the Edge
There are three phrases that are quite similar, but that have very different meanings: “on edge,” “on the edge,” and “over the edge.”
We use on edge to describe someone who is nervous and anxious, someone who is the opposite of relaxed. For example, if your wife is pregnant and the baby will be born any day now, you may be feeling on edge, though your wife may be feeling even more on edge! Someone who is trying to stop smoking may also be very much on edge.
On the edge can literally mean on the outer part of something. For instance, you may be sitting on the edge of the swimming pool when your brother walks by and pushes you into the water. However, on the edge is also often used metaphorically (not literally) to talk about something that is just about to happen, or to talk about someone who is just about to do something. For example, we might say: “She was on the edge of becoming a singing star when she lost her voice in the accident.” Or: “He was on the edge of winning the election when the newspaper reporters found out about his gambling problem.”
Finally, over the edge is used to describe someone who is insane (crazy), and is usually used in situations where the person was sane (not crazy) at some point, but because something happened, has now gone insane. For example, you could say: “The boss has always wanted to know what each employee was working on, but I think he’s gone over the edge by making his employees report to him every 15 minutes!” Or: “Dina is a huge fan of Rob Pattinson, but she went over the edge when she changed her name to Dina Pattinson!”
So I hope that none of you are on edge, that you are all on the edge of finding whatever will make you happiest, and no one you know has gone over the edge!
~ Lucy
June 9th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Dear LUcy , as always very insightful and mesmerizing
In deed ,you have the edge over other podcasters out there . No podcasters can come even close to you . Hope,me spiceing up my comment from time to time ,dont drive a wedge between us.
The thing is being on the Blog takeing the edge of my daily complications;you know sometimes all the stress involved with today’s life push me over the edge.And, For me ,Eslpod is the only way out of my routin humdrum yet stressful soert of life.
All the forces with you
June 9th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Well Lucy,
Could I say that I over the edge when I listen you in the Pod Cast?.
Maybe it is a little exaggerated, but it’s true.
I don’t know how your face is, but the best of all is that I can imagine it.
If your voice sounds very nice for me, I can imagine your face and your intelligence in keeping with your voice.
Thus, you can guess that you are beautiful for me.
Do you think it is corny what I said?. Please, don’t think this way, because it is the true.
Don’t worry about it, because I’m 55 years old. In addition, my wife has read this writing. I haven’t got any secrets to her, because I’m in love with her.
Wishes.
June 9th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Thank you so much Lucy, I haven´t any idea of these three different meanings that you have explained us so well.
But please Lucy, what have to do the picture of this boy with the subject you are explaining us?.
I am really very intrigued, did you know him? may be you have seen him walking round by L.A. or Hollywood?.
Well, I am joking as I know he is Edward and I have been very surprised when I have seen him in the blog as every day I read
a little of the books where he is a fiction protagonist of the Twilight series that I am reading now.
In fact I am reading the book fourth and I think the series are fascinating to just a lot of people, for instance my wife and my daughter Eva (spanish), my daughter Fátima (english), me (english of course)…..and now my other daughter Laura who is
begining, and I hope she should be capable of reading the second in english as she is listenig to E.S.L. too.
Did you read it, Lucy?…please, tell us
Here we have a controversy as Cuca and Eva likes Edward to Bella, and Fatima prefers Jacob…….I have to be cautious and I am
not giving them any clue of my opinion.
Thank you so much Lucy, by your work I am being capable of reading these books in English and it is a pleasure.
June 9th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Yes Lucy, I took my ” last” cigarette this evening. Tomorrow and the following days I will be seriously very much on edge… My poor husband! When it will be to hard, I will thinking that I’m on edge and perhaps it will help me to feel better. Who knows ? I decided to stop smoking forever.
Thanks for these interessting difference of meaning.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
elcomandant: No, “over the edge” is usually used to mean a negative thing, that someone is doing or behaving in a crazy, unacceptable way that is difficult to understand. We wouldn’t normally use it to refer to something that makes us crazy in the excited or very happy way.
emiliano: Well, I had to find an excuse to put up a picture of Robert Pattinson and I’m sure more than one teen listener is glad that I did. Yes, I have read the Twilight books. I have to admit that I avoided them for a long time. I didn’t think I would like books about vampires, but I found them entertaining. They made me remember what high school was like. Edward or Jacob? Sorry Fatima, it’s Edward, for me, all the way.
Nina: Good luck with quitting smoking! I hope that if you’re “going cold turkey” (quitting suddenly and completely) that you’ve removed all of the breakables from the house. I congratulate you and wish you an easy time of it.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Hi Nina,
Quitting smoke is easy if it is your choice (if you’ve done balance-sheet of all pros and cons), but if it’s sacrifice I’m afraid it won’t last and you’ll be on edge or even over the edge
At least this is my experience.
Good Luck
June 9th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Yes Nina, I agree with Dr Lucy that if you are “going cold turkey” (a new phrase, thank you) it would be the best way to have
a complete good result.
As Spaniard and having a very good wine here, I like to drink some wine with my meals always. I have this habit along many,
many years, and enjoyed very much a good wine and another spirit drinks like cognac or whisky.
But nearly 15 years ago, the doctor told me I have to cut off all type of alcoholic drinks, even beer, as I have a problem with
the liver. The way of doing it was just so “suddenly and completely” till now. Along these years I haven’t drink a single drop
of wine, champagne or beer. I am alive and the liver is O.K., if I didn’t may be I would passed away years before and without knowing English at all, what a pity.
Doing that I have to confess that I wasn’t be on the edge because I know clearly “I Have To Do It”.
Dr. Lucy, thank you very much, you are “un cielo” giving me/us the information I asked for………and between us I think I
like Edward just a bit more too, but it is a secret.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Hey all,
I’m on edge though
June 9th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Dear Lucy,
I can not believe that you are a big fan of the twilight guy. It is so unlike you. The thing is , I have never seen you at first hand , but from your warm voice and your writing style I can guest a thing or two about your personality.
If you had posted a mug shot of George cloony, it was more understandable. George Cloony is a looker , but this guy ….
How ever, there is no accounting for tastes. By the way, please don’t get me wrong , I am totally stragiht.
We are in the same age group, I am a tad older than you.So ,it is probable that we follow the same trend.
I had this honour to see at least an image of Jeff behind the camera. I m wondering, when we will be granted the pleasure of relating to you.
But,unfortunatly beggers can’t be choosers.
Wheter I meet you or not, I owe you a big deal
June 9th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Fisrt of all, thank you so much Lucy and Jeff. I’m always looking forward to listening to your podcast and reading blog.
By the way, I just made an example using these phrases.
My wife often complains that I left papers out on the floor when I’m on the edge to tidy up them.
I don’t know why leaving papers out makes her being on edge, but she’ll go over the edge if we argue about it.
Of course this is fiction:)
June 9th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
weell.. I think it is my destiny to be with the losers.. or maybe It´s just that I prefer hot to cold (too cold causes me chilblains
thanks again Lucy, I´m crazy about you too!
June 10th, 2009 at 1:39 am
Dear Lucy
It’s so useful and impressive of your explanation. Thank you
Ping from Beijing, China
June 10th, 2009 at 4:39 am
Unfortunately, I am on edge sometimes, due to the stress in my job. Despite I wish to avoid it, I can not get it, but I will go on intending to make it. No doubt that when I will be 90 years old I will have fulfilled my dream.
Apart from that question, I try not to be on the edge, because I intent to be aware of my parents’ long ago advices: Be careful!, Be quiet!, Be polite! and so on.
Ultimately and definitively, I haven’t ever been over the edge.
In any case, this topic proves me I don´t have a clue on a lot of English language’s subjects and it is a fine motive to study harder and harder.
Thank you, Lucy.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I had the Honour to see
Way to go Nina,
Don’t snap my friend! I know it is difficult ,But, please keep in mind that in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
June 10th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Dear Lucy,
I feel you, and I am trying to avoided long time this books, but finally, I am reading. I have two daughters, (19 years old, and 22 years old) that they are “staunch fans” of this serial books, and they didn’t stop to talk about it. I could never have imaged, this kind of books, can like me, but in fact, I have to recognise, that they are entertaining.
Before I left Spain, I read the early two, and I was obliged for them, to try the third, but really I didn’t want read it , because I have a very clear purpose during my time here “Only read in English”
But I must to confess that I got cold feet, and I’m just reading the third (in spite of the fact that sometimes, I feel guilty) but I need forgot English for a moment once in a while. But I hope, that the last one “Breaking down”, I will read in English, and I can understand better, mainly thank you both.
I’m going to spill the beans that I prefer Jack. Sorry…
Loreto
June 10th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Loreto, please don´t feel guilty, I am older than you also my wife and we don´t feel that way. In fact there was a long time I haven`t seen her more addicted to a book. As I said before I am reading them in English and they are a wonderful exercise to do because they are really very good written in my modest opinion. I am just beginning with the forth so if you did so we have something to share.
In those books I am finding so many words and phrases verbs that Lucy and Jeff have taught me previously that I am really very very happy. Go ahead Loreto without any doubt, you can.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Emiliano,
I don’t know if you understand me, well. I don’t feel guilty to read the book, “only to read in Spanish”, because, my purpose during my staying in LA, it was, only read in English. I broke the promise I did it to myself, but that’s the way the weakness is.
Thanks for your encouragement, and when I finish the third, I will try to read the forth and we can share, of course, our opinions.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Hey Dr. Lucy,
Thanks for this useful and interesting post.
It’s amazing to see that you and your team have always been able to relate every new word and expression to the present day life as you did at the end of this post.
Remarkable!
June 11th, 2009 at 1:31 am
You are right, I got the gist badly despite your post was clear. May be who is a little guilty is me as I am reading a book supposedly for teenages and I thought my feelings were yours.
But I don´t mind what other people may think as inside me I feel as a young boy for ever.
Along the last two years I made the purpose of reading all the books in English as I wanted to improve the lenguage as much as possible. It is a great effort and even more sacrifice because I read slowly and few books. I would like to read some more Spanish books as I did always. But if I take one it is sure the English one remains untouched. It´s always the same history.
Last summer I took the first Twilight in English of course knowing nothing about the book. I liked the cover, read something and I saw it would be possible for me to read it, that´s all. I started and I liked it very much, afterward I know I was reading a best seller and I was amazed.
Till now I have recomended it to my daughters, my wife, and everybody.
Another books I like to read in English are Ken Follet’s. In fact I am reading all of them, “A Dangerous Fortune” is easy and fantastic to read in English.
But all his books are great for us despite some are large as “A World without End”.
I think I am writing too much as always. Sorry, and thank you Loreto for your patience.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Dear Lucy,
Again ,you earned a praise
In every Piece , you have a surprise for me. I had no idea about the term “wish you an easy time of it.” I like it ;it is very functional ,practical.
All bragging aside ,Once I thought my English is pretty good, but you guys prooved me otherwise.For me ,the Podcast is a true enlightening experience.In deed,you guys are eye openers.
Thanks for the insight Lucy. The more I read through your transcripts( the canon of yours) ,the more I learn.
I tried to be sincere here that The most exhausting thing in the world is being insincere.(A quote)
June 11th, 2009 at 6:15 am
was pretty good
June 11th, 2009 at 6:43 am
Dear Emiliano,
You found Their genius of words in a book you’re reading. Here,every where I turn I see a sign of them. The Words,expressions,and Slangs they have been generously teaching us are all over the place.I mean,everywhere in the newspaper ,movies, TV shows, sitcoms,and so on. I got to live it up ,my friend. And,you should come experience it for yourself.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:45 am
P.S. I reside down here ,In Canada
June 11th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I think your guys are too much on edge about the English thing. You know, Please don’t go over the edge about the English thing you know. That’s how I feel, the vietnamese guy in America
June 13th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Hi there!
I love this work that have been developed for you!
Congrats!
June 15th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Dear Lucy, I know why Edward picture is in the blog as reading the book “Breaking Dawn” on page 44 six paragraph I have read this morning:
Bella said “I was afraid to look in the mirror – afraid the image of myself in the wedding dress would send me over the edge into a full-scale panic attack”.
Thank you, If wasn´t for your post I didn´t understand this expression, like so many I am reading day by day in the book.
But this one now I know it perfectly well.
Great.
August 17th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Regarding the meaning of “edge”,
we can consider that there’s another usage.
“Cutting Edge”
It’s usually related to the technology.
United States is well-known for the cutting edge technology in aviation industry.
Because it has lauched rockets & shuttles that are able to carry a few crews since 1960’s.
& NASA who is the national organization of aerospace industry in the U.S plans to construct space stations until 2020
so that spaceship can drop by there to fix & be supplied necessities.