on the brink of
on the brink of (metaphor)
/ɑːn ðə brɪŋk əv/
Meanings
- Very close to something important or significant happening.
- About to achieve a success, breakthrough, or major result.
- Very close to a difficult, dangerous, or unwanted event.
- At a point where a major change is likely to occur.
- At the edge or rim of something. (literal)
Synonyms: on the verge of; about to; close to; nearing; at the point of; on the edge of; approaching; almost at; on the threshold of.
Example Sentences
- The startup was on the brink of securing a major investment that could expand its business nationwide.
- After years of experiments, the researchers were on the brink of a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
- The company was on the brink of bankruptcy after losing several key clients.
- The town was on the brink of significant change following the construction of a new transportation hub.
- The photographer stood on the brink of the canyon to capture the sunrise. (literal)
Etymology and Origin
The word “brink” traces back to early English usage in the Middle Ages, likely entering the language through Scandinavian influences during the Viking era or later contacts. It originally described the physical edge of something steep, like a hill, shore, or precipice—a place where land drops sharply. This sense of a dangerous or defining boundary naturally lent itself to metaphorical uses over time.
Figurative Meanings Take Shape
By the late medieval period, writers began applying “brink” to situations on the verge of major change, whether positive or negative. The idea of standing at the edge of a steep drop made it a perfect image for being close to ruin, discovery, death, or some turning point. This figurative sense grew stronger in English literature as authors described people or societies hovering near critical moments.
Earliest Known Appearances
One of the oldest recorded figurative uses comes from around 1338 in Robert Mannyng’s Chronicle, a Middle English history of England. In it, the line “hunger was at þe brynk” captures the feeling of famine pressing right to the limit. This shows how the phrase was already evoking imminent danger or a tipping point in everyday struggles.
Shakespeare and Growing Popularity
William Shakespeare helped popularize similar imagery in his play Timon of Athens, written around 1606 and published in 1623. A character speaks of being surprised “to the very brinke of teares,” showing emotion pushed to its extreme edge. By the 17th and 18th centuries, variations like “on the brink of” appeared more often in works by authors such as Andrew Marvell, Jonathan Swift, and Daniel Defoe, often tied to ruin, eternity, or destruction.
Likely Country of Origin
The idiom first took root in England, emerging during the Middle English period when the language absorbed words from Scandinavian and Low German sources. Its spread through British literature helped it move into everyday speech across the English-speaking world.
How the Full Idiom Evolved
The complete expression “on the brink of” solidified as a common way to describe being very close to a significant event or outcome. It carries a sense of tension—things could tip one way or the other. Over centuries, it has described everything from personal crises to historical turning points, always keeping that core image of standing at a dangerous edge.
Interesting Note
Some early uses linked the phrase closely to thoughts of mortality, such as standing “on the brink of the grave” or eternity, reflecting the serious tone of medieval and early modern writing.
Variants
- on the verge of
- at the brink of
- on the edge of
- on the threshold of
- at the point of
Similar Idioms
Last update:
Share your opinions