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A tenter is a frame on which cloth is stretched during manufacture, so that it may dry evenly. The frame is outfitted with sharp hooks or bent nails that hold the cloth stretched. These hooks, you will not be surprised to learn, are called tenterhooks.
Cloth-stretching being outside of most people's range of experience these days, tenterhook is rarely found except in the figurative expression on tenterhooks, meaning 'in a state of uneasy suspense or painful anxiety'.
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What is the meaning of being on tenterhooks and how did this phrase originate?
Being on tenterhooks means being in a state of anxious suspense or uncertainty, often while waiting for an outcome. The phrase originates from the textile industry, where cloth was stretched on a frame called a tenter to dry. The hooks used to secure the fabric created a sense of tension, metaphorically reflecting the anxiety one feels when waiting for something important.
What is the origin of the phrase on the rocks?
"on the rocks"
What is the origin of the phrase Judas goat?
god
What is the origin of the phrase dead easy?
The origin of the phrase 'dead easy comes from the English language. The term dead actually meant 'simple' or 'completely' and dates back to the 14th century with this usage.
What is the origin of the phrase gold glory and god?
The origin of the phrase "Gold, glory, and God" can be traced back to early Spanish explorers that traveled to North America. This was a term they would use to explain why they were on their journey.
What does the phrase 'waiting for a phone call you were on tenterhooks' mean?
It means 'anxiously waiting for news about someone or something'
What is a sentence with the word tenterhooks?
The movie kept the entire theater on tenterhooks with the epic battle scenes.
What does on tenterhooks mean?
"On tenterhooks" is an idiomatic expression that means to be in a state of anxious suspense or anticipation. It originates from the textile industry, where fabric was stretched on hooks (tenterhooks) to dry and maintain its shape. When someone is on tenterhooks, they are eagerly waiting for an outcome or news, often feeling uneasy or nervous about what will happen next.
What is the meaning of being on tenterhooks and how did this phrase originate?
Being on tenterhooks means being in a state of anxious suspense or uncertainty, often while waiting for an outcome. The phrase originates from the textile industry, where cloth was stretched on a frame called a tenter to dry. The hooks used to secure the fabric created a sense of tension, metaphorically reflecting the anxiety one feels when waiting for something important.
What is the origin of the phrase eat you?
There is no such phrase as "eat you".
What actors and actresses appeared in Tenterhooks - 2002?
The cast of Tenterhooks - 2002 includes: Jayke Aernan Karen Berger Kwame Ngozi Orji Charles Okafor Zack Orji
What is the origin of the phrase ram page?
There is no such phrase. There is a word rampage. It is of Scottish origin, perhaps from RAMP, to rear up.
What phrase of a Greek origin means the common people?
The phrase of Greek origin referring to the common people is "hoi polloi."
What does the saying on tenterhooks mean?
It means to be anxiously waiting for something to happen.
What is the origin of the phrase on the rocks?
"on the rocks"
What is the origin of the phrase hey presto?
The Spanish for "I have put" is he puesto, could this be the origin?
How do you use the word tenterhooks in a sentence?
Tenterhooks are vicious s-shaped hooks, used to stretch linen in the fields, one end snagged through the cloth and the other end looped over a wooden frame. Being on tenterhooks would involve having one snagged through each hand/foot, then pulled out tight - so not particularly comfortable.
