on edge—in an irritable state; very nervous or agitated:
- I was on edge all the time and the smallest thing would make me cry.
on the edge—
1. on the point of smth.:
- We are on the edge of losing many fundamental rights and at the top of the list is the right to privacy.
2. = on edge:
- His manner had not the ease it used to have. He seemed on the edge about something.
Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase on the edge of one’s seat—in the state of nervous excitement or anticipation (used of an audience watching a movie of suspense, etc.):
- I was engrossed in the film and my son was on the edge of his seat for most of the movie.