teetering on the brink/edge of
idiom
: close to being in a specified state or condition
The countries are teetering on the brink of war.
The bird is teetering on the edge of extinction.
Examples of teetering on the brink/edge of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yearslong efforts by autocrats to undermine the free press have given cover to leaders in places teetering on the edge of democracy to do the same.
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Sara Fischer, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024
The new lawsuit comes as the House settlement was already teetering on the brink of collapse, following a hearing last week in which U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken declined to grant preliminary approval.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
David Lynch, Bertrand Bonello, Elem Klimov and his wife Larisa Shepitko, who passed away way too young — these are filmmakers who were constantly teetering on the brink of making something terrible.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024
Advertisement Up to that point, the Dodgers had been teetering on the brink of collapse.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for teetering on the brink/edge of 
Sara Fischer, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024
The new lawsuit comes as the House settlement was already teetering on the brink of collapse, following a hearing last week in which U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken declined to grant preliminary approval.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
David Lynch, Bertrand Bonello, Elem Klimov and his wife Larisa Shepitko, who passed away way too young — these are filmmakers who were constantly teetering on the brink of making something terrible.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024
Advertisement Up to that point, the Dodgers had been teetering on the brink of collapse.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for teetering on the brink/edge of
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'teetering on the brink/edge of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Teetering on the brink/edge of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teetering%20on%20the%20brink%2Fedge%20of. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.
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