Dictionary

on tenterhooks en · ADP

Pronunciation

• [-ɾəɹ-] (General-American)
• /ˌɑn-/ (General-American, cot-caught-merger)
• /ˌɒn ˈtɛntəhʊks/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• ŏn′ tĕn′tər-ho͝oks′
• (Australia) audio
• /ˌɔn ˈtɛntəɹˌhʊks/ (General-American)
• ôn′ tĕn′tər-ho͝oks′

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.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) In a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles; on the rack.
   • Why do you keep me on tenterhooks like this, putting me off and off? 1921 September, John Galsworthy, “Caprice”, in To Let, London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, page 114:
   • Having ordered a light repast, to the consternation of the waiter, they awaited its arrival together with that of Mr. Bellby, in silent reaction after the hour and a half's suspense on the tenterhooks of publicity. 1920, John Galsworthy, “Dartie versus Dartie”, in In Chancery (The Forsyte Saga; 2), London: William Heinemann, →OCLC, part II, page 187:
   • I made no reply, but left him upon the tenter-hooks of impatient uncertainty. [1748, [Tobias Smollett], “I Enquire about My Uncle, and Understand He is Gone to Sea— […]”, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume I, London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, page 94:
   • A 30-hour search for an escaped lioness that had residents on the southern fringes of Berlin shelter in their homes and the rest of the German capital on tenterhooks has found that what was thought to be an exotic feline predator was most likely a common wild pig. 2023 July 21, Philip Oltermann, “Escaped ‘lioness’ in Berlin was most likely a wild boar, mayor says”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Nov 2023:
   • If I were efficient to the point of crankiness, I suppose I should come out at any hour between midnight and reveille, and so keep the guard on tenterhooks, and make the tour as hard for them as I could. 1894, George Israel Putnam, On the Offensive: An Army Story, page 49, lines 14–18:

Forms

Relateds

shpilkes · like a cat on a hot tin roof

Synonyms

in suspense · on the tenters · on tenters

Translations (2)

pl jak na szpilkach (in a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles) · es en vilo (in a state of (great) apprehension or suspense; on pins and needles)