Definition

Adjective: - To be on tenterhooks / to be on edge: To be in a state of nervous anxiety, worry, or unease, often because something is unresolved or a task is incomplete. It describes a persistent, nagging feeling of preoccupation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Công việc chưa xong, anh ấy cứ ngay ngáy trong lòng. (The work wasn't finished, so he was on tenterhooks.)
  • Cô ấy ngay ngáy lo lắng chờ kết quả kỳ thi. (She was on edge with worry while waiting for the exam results.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is often used to describe an internal, psychological state of suspenseful anxiety. It is frequently paired with words indicating the heart or mind (e.g., - in one's heart/mind) to emphasize the internal feeling.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngay ngáy lo (v): to be anxiously worried.
  • Mẹ ngay ngáy lo khi con đi học xa. (The mother was anxiously worried when her child went to study far away.)

Synonyms

• Anxious: Feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy.
• Preoccupied: Dominated or engrossed by thought.
• Apprehensive: Anxious or fearful that something bad will happen.

Related Idioms

• Lòng ngay ngáy: A worried/anxious heart.
  • Với lòng ngay ngáy, cô ấy chờ cuộc gọi. (With an anxious heart, she waited for the call.)

1. Be on tenterhooks, be on the tenters