| gen. |
strained to the limit (Taras); stretched thin (Taras); on the cusp (figurative a point between two different situations or states, when a person or thing is poised between the two or just about to move from one to the other: those on the cusp of adulthood. NOED Alexander Demidov); just barely (Tanya Gesse); just this side of (Tanya Gesse); at the edge of doing something (SergeyL); to the point of (this would be optimistic to the point of foolishness wandervoegel); this side of (чего-либо); on the brink (of); on the verge (on the verge of collapse/success/tears/death/disaster/war, etc. • Her husband's violent and abusive behaviour drove her to the verge of despair. artery); on the threshold of something (Andrey Truhachev); on the threshold of (something Andrey Truhachev); on the brink of; on the edge (Viacheslav Volkov); within an inch of (чего-либо Anglophile); on the edge of something (чего-л., smth.); at the brink (owant); at the breaking point (Taras); on the verge of (Taras); on the border of (Taras); at breaking point (Abysslooker); desperate (She sounded just as desperate as John himself – Было видно, что она находилась на грани, как и сам Джон honeysickle); near (Abysslooker); almost (в непосредственной близости к переходу в другое (обычно худшее) состояние • His voice was loud, almost a shout. Abysslooker); on the edge of (чего-л., smth. • Let her stay alone for some time, she is on the edge of weeping again); knife-edge (срыва (e.g., attack follows weeks of knife-edge tensions building up between A. and B.) Anglophile) |
