Phrase guide

on tenterhooks

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • ŏn′ tĕn′tər-ho͝oks′
  • ôn′ tĕn′tər-ho͝oks′
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɒn ˈtɛntəhʊks/
  • General-American: /ˌɔn ˈtɛntəɹˌhʊks/
  • General-American, cot-caught-merger: /ˌɑn-/
  • General-American: [-ɾəɹ-]
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles; on the rack.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in suspense, on tenters, on the tenters

Antonyms: none provided

History

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.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: jak na szpilkach — in a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles