tenterhooks

['tɛntɚhʊks]

tenterhooks: tenterhooks: [15] A tenterhook is one of a set of hooks used to hold cloth taut on a frame during manufacture, especially while its dries (tenter comes from medieval Latin tentorium, a derivative of Latin tendere ‘stretch’). The metaphorical use of on tenterhooks to mean ‘in a state of agonizing suspense’ dates from the mid- 18th century.
tenterhooks (n.): plural of tenterhook (late 15c.), "one of the hooks that holds cloth on a tenter," from tenter + hook (n.). The figurative phrase on tenterhooks "in painful suspense" is from 1748; earlier to be on tenters (1530s).

2. He was still on tenterhooks waiting for his directors' decision about the job.: 他仍紧张不安地等待着主任们对他的工作作出的决定。

3. The students are on tenterhooks to hear the result of the examination.: 学生们烦躁不安地听考试结果.

4. The mother was on tenterhooks until her little Laura came back.: 当小珞拉回来后,她母亲才放下心来.

5. I waited, on tenterhooks, for Uncle Jack to tell Atticus my side of it.: 我提心吊胆地等着杰克叔叔告诉阿迪克斯我的理由.