What’s the difference between being on the verge of something, and being on the brink? Is one of them more positive than the other? What synonyms can you use instead? Here’s the lowdown.
On the verge
A verge is an edge, border, or limit (it can be used literally, as in the grass verge on each side of a road).
To be on the verge of something means to be very close to doing or experiencing something.
It is used either + noun, or + -ing (e.g. ‘on the verge of resigning’). A person can also be driven to the verge of despair, or an animal species driven to the verge of extinction.
This makes it sound as if on the verge is always something negative, and indeed, the dictionary lists collapse, tears, death, disaster, and war as terms that go well with on the verge of, but this is not the case. You will also see examples like:
on the verge of a significant breakthrough
on the verge of becoming champions
on the verge of success
When on the verge is used with a noun, you can often use on the edge of as a synonym (e.g. He was on the edge of tears). Occasionally you can use threshold (for example: on the threshold of a major breakthrough).
By the way, you can also use verge as a verb: to verge on means ‘to be very close to’, ‘to border on’. For example:
His comment verges on slander (= comes very close to being slanderous).
Here are some examples from the Press:
Haiti on verge of collapse, NGOs warn
Swedish rightwing on verge of narrow election win
Liz Truss on verge of major U-turn on real-terms benefits cut
Why Italy is on verge of electing its first far-right leader since…
Germany’s Die Linke on verge of split over sanctions on Russia
On the brink
The brink, used literally, is the edge of a cliff. We talk about pulling someone back from the brink (for example, if you got a drug addict into rehab and they made a good recovery).
Metaphorically, the brink refers to a critical point, the point where a different, and usually dangerous, situation, is about to begin.
While you may read examples like We are on the brink of a major new discovery, The company is poised on the brink of success, or They are on the brink of making a breakthrough, my feeling is that most of the time, ‘brink’ is used in a negative sense:
on the brink of famine
on the brink of ruin
on the brink of collapse
on the brink of civil war
on the brink of extinction
on the brink of bankruptcy
on the brink of disaster
Like verge, on the brink is used + noun or + -ing (e.g. The situation is on the brink of descending into chaos).
Two useful phrases for you: teetering on the brink (e.g. The company is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy). Here you can clearly see the meaning of ‘cliff-edge’, because teetering means you’re about to fall off, i.e. things are about to go pear-shaped.
If something good is about to happen, rather than a disaster, you would use poised: They are poised on the brink of success.
Here are some examples from the Press:
World on brink of five ‘disastrous’ climate tipping points
Liz Truss’s government on the brink after Suella Braverman’s parting shot
Unions on brink of ‘synchronised’ strikes, says RMT’s Mick Lynch
How Liz Truss plunged the UK to the brink of recession
Back from the brink: how bison, bears and beavers returned to the wild
Polls put Lula on brink of comeback victory over Bolsonaro
The online clothing retailer Missguided is teetering on the brink of collapse after being issued a winding-up petition by clothing suppliers
Europe on the brink: the states battling to stave off recession
Brinkmanship
Do you know the word brinkmanship? In politics, it means trying to get what you want by saying that if you don’t get it, you’ll do something dangerous.
The collocation engaging in brinkmanship is often used to describe what is basically a game of chicken between two groups or politicians!
Here’s an example from the papers:
“Dominic Raab accuses EU of ‘brinkmanship‘ over vaccine supply threat”
Cusp
You may have encountered on the cusp of and wondered if the meaning was the same.
The cusp is the dividing line between two different things.
For example, I could say that my daughter is on the cusp of adulthood. Cusp is often used to mark a transition between two states.
By the way, it also has a meaning in astrology: if you are ‘on the cusp of Leo and Virgo’, this means you were born within 3 days before or after the change of astrological signs.
Here are some examples from the Press:
Techies think we’re on the cusp of a virtual world called the Metaverse
Social care is on the cusp of a crisis – The Guardian
Congress is on the cusp of passing the most pivotal bill in years
Owners on cusp of selling Selfridges to Thai group for £4bn
IMF warns world economy may soon be on the cusp of recession
Synonyms
Here are some synonyms for the idea of being on the verge or on the brink of something:
ready to…
about to…
on the point of…
imminent
impending
inescapable
inevitable
There are other options: you could use words like looming or on the horizon, but they seem more distant in time.
In summary
Frankly, in many contexts, on the verge and on the brink can be used interchangeably.
If there is a difference to be found, it is that on the brink of is more negative.
The last few weeks have not been short of sad events, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Just in case you’re ever in a situation where you have to interpret a speech about a tragic event, I’ve put together a couple of posts for you about expressing condolences.
In today’s post, we’re going to do some terminology mining to find useful phrases.
Article 1- Queen Elizabeth II
This is an article I adapted from the Guardian. Have a read through it, and make note of useful phrases.
Condolences and condemnation: Indigenous people and people of colour react to the death of Queen Elizabeth II
The reaction to the death of the Queen among Indigenous people and people of colour, including those from Commonwealth nations, has been swift and, at times, unflinching.
For many the Queen was the personification of British colonisation and the damage it has wreaked in their countries – and they were not afraid to say so. Yet others expressed their condolences for the monarch who has long held “a special place” in their hearts.
As condolences poured in from across the globe for Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 early on Friday morning Australian time, so did anger and resentment at the unresolved trauma of colonisation that for them, the crown represented.
In Australia, Prof Sandy O’Sullivan, from Macquarie University, tweeting as this week’s host of IndigenousX, attempted to explain the reaction and put it into a historical and social context.
“For those saying we should be magnanimous about the passing of the queen, a reminder that the queen inserted herself into the lives of Indigenous people here multiple times. She wasn’t a bystander to the effects of colonisation and colonialism, she was an architect of it,” O’Sullivan wrote.
“What she did ‘do’ was be an active participant in stealing our land. Instead of handing back, making reparations from her enormous wealth, her agents (that she had explicit control of, see ‘The Dismissal’) continued to steal land and when they had it all, they stole our children.
Northern Territory Country Liberal party senator Jacinta Price said on Facebook the Queen was a “remarkable monarch who dedicated her life to serve not only the Commonwealth but the world”.
Price said she was “grateful” to be able to sign the condolence book to the royal family at the governor general’s residence.
Canada’s first Inuit governor general, Mary Simon, released a statement reminiscing about the Queen’s relationship with Inuit people.
“When I was growing up, my grandmother revered The Queen, as did so many in the Arctic. She would tell us stories about Her Majesty, about her role and her commitment,” Simon said,
“Her reign encompassed the mandates of 12 Canadian prime ministers and 13 governors general. On 22 occasions, she undertook official visits to Canada, where she professed her love for our county again and again. She was a steadfast presence during some of the most tumultuous times of our lives, and most recently gave comfort to so many during the pandemic.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I offer deepest condolences to the members of the Royal Family, who grieve the loss of a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.”
In New Zealand, foreign affairs minister, Māori woman Nanaia Mahuta said Queen Elizabeth exemplified strong democratic principles and the rule of law, while Māori party co-leader Rawiri Waititi said questions on the role of the monarchy could wait while the world grieves.
“The huge vacuum left will cause debate, but in this time of grief and loss we can only support her whānau and mokopuna as they grieve and heal. She was a constant across three generations, an anchor in a rapidly changing globe,” Waititi told Radio NZ.
What did you come up with? Here are my top finds – expressions that could be used in similar circumstances, and not just for a monarch!
to express condolences
to hold a special place in (my/your/) heart
condolences poured in
the passing of the queen
dedicated her life
to serve…(the people, the country)
the condolence book (=book of condolences)
to release a statement
reminiscing
her reign encompassed…
she undertook official visits
she was a steadfast presence
to offer deepest condolences
she exemplified democratic principles
while the world grieves
in this time of grief and loss
Article 2 – Shinzo Abe
Same exercise: see what useful phrases you can extract from this piece, adapted from an article in the Guardian.
State funeral for Shinzo Abe held in Tokyo amid controversy
A state funeral for Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has been held in Tokyo amid public anger over the cost of the ceremony and revelations over his party’s ties to a controversial religious group.
More than 4,000 guests, including the US vice-president, Kamala Harris, and the British foreign secretary, James Cleverly, stood in silence as a member of Japan’s self-defence forces entered the Nippon Budokan hall, where a 19-gun salute sounded in honour of the assassinated former leader.
Amid tight security, people opposed to the funeral demonstrated as thousands of mourners queued to lay flowers and offer prayers in a park near the venue.
After a video showcasing Abe’s achievements, set to footage of the former prime minister playing the piano, the current leader, Fumio Kishida, paid tribute to his friend and predecessor.
“Courage is doing what is right,” Kishida said in English, before adding in Japanese: “Abe-san, you were a person of courage. People around the world will look back fondly on your time in power. Abe-san, Prime Minister Abe … you did good work. Please rest in peace.”
Abe’s death sent shock waves through a country with very low rates of gun crime and prompted tributes from politicians around the world.
Here are some ideas:
a state funeral
Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister (nice concise phrasing here)
guests stood in silence
a 19-gun salute sounded in honour of the assassinated former leader
amid tight security, amid controversy (amid is a preposition you may not have used before)
mourners queued to lay flowers and offer prayers
Kishida paid tribute to his friend and predecessor
Please rest in peace
his death sent shockwaves through a country with very low rates of gun crime
his death prompted tributes from leaders around the world
Gap-filling exercise
See if you can use some of the expressions you’ve noted down to fill in the gaps in this article about the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
World leaders ___________ after __________ of Queen Elizabeth II
Messages __________ at end of British monarch’s 70-year reign
Presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and leaders around the world have ___________ to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II, many of them reflecting on a 70-year reign that _________ some of the most turbulent and decisive moments in modern British and world history.
As Thursday wore on and news of the Queen’s ill-health eventually gave way to news of her death, global figures spoke of what she had meant to them and their countries.
Among the most frequently __________ words were “duty”, “steadfast” and “constant”, but mention was also ________ of her sense of humour, and of her life and role as a mother and grandmother as well as a monarch.
Minutes after the Queen’s death was announced, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, posted a simple picture of the Queen on his Twitter account, unaccompanied by any words. In a subsequent message, he wrote: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II __________ the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a ___________ impression on her country and her century.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin _________ his condolences to King Charles for the “irreparable loss” of his mother, saying the Queen had “rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage”.
President Xi Jinping of China ___________ his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people” in a statement __________ through state media. “Her __________ is a great loss to the British people.”
Ireland’s president, Michael D Higgins, described the late monarch as “a remarkable friend of Ireland” as he offered his ______________ to the royal family.
“Her Majesty __________ the British people with exceptional dignity,” he said. “Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the __________ of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.”
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he was _________ to learn of Queen Elizabeth’s death and ________ his deepest condolences to the royal family and the people and government of the UK.
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said flags would ________ and arrangements would be made for a __________ service.
Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, expressed his “great and profound sadness”, adding: “We join our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth in _________ her passing, and pray for the comfort of the members of her family, and the people of the United Kingdom, as they ________ the loss of their beloved Queen and matriarch.”
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, spoke of his “deep sadness” at the news, saying the UK and the Commonwealth had _________ an irreparable loss.
Solutions
World leaders pay tribute after death of Queen Elizabeth II
Messages flood in at end of British monarch’s 70-year reign
Presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and leaders around the world have paid tribute to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II, many of them reflecting on a 70-year reign that encompassed some of the most turbulent and decisive moments in modern British and world history.
As Thursday wore on and news of the Queen’s ill-health eventually gave way to news of her death, global figures spoke of what she had meant to them and their countries.
Among the most frequently invoked words were “duty”, “steadfast” and “constant”, but mention was also made of her sense of humour, and of her life and role as a mother and grandmother as well as a monarch.
Minutes after the Queen’s death was announced, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, posted a simple picture of the Queen on his Twitter account, unaccompanied by any words. In a subsequent message, he wrote: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century.
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin extended his condolences to King Charles for the “irreparable loss” of his mother, saying the Queen had “rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage”.
President Xi Jinping of China expressed his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people” in a statement released through state media. “Her passing is a great loss to the British people.”
Ireland’s president, Michael D Higgins, described the late monarch as “a remarkable friend of Ireland” as he offered his condolences to the royal family.
“Her Majesty served the British people with exceptional dignity,” he said. “Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.”
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he was saddened to learn of Queen Elizabeth’s death and sent his deepest condolences to the royal family and the people and government of the UK.
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said flags would fly at half-mast and arrangements would be made for a state memorial service.
Jamaica’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, expressed his “great and profound sadness”, adding: “We join our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth in mourning her passing, and pray for the comfort of the members of her family, and the people of the United Kingdom, as they grieve the loss of their beloved Queen and matriarch.”
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, spoke of his “deep sadness” at the news, saying the UK and the Commonwealth had suffered an irreparable loss.
Comments
World leaders pay tribute after death of Queen Elizabeth II: you could also say ‘after passing of’ (this is a headline, hence the lack of ‘the’ before the word ‘death’. In a normal sentence, you would need a ‘the’).
Messages flood in: you could say ‘pour in’
a 70-year reign that encompassed some of the most turbulent and decisive moments: you could also say ‘included’
global figures: ‘leaders’, ‘personalities’
Among the most frequently invoked words: ‘invoked’ is lovely, but you could try ‘cited’, ‘mentioned’, ‘listed’, or ‘used’
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years: there are some lovely alternatives to this, including ‘typified’, ‘epitomised’, ‘exemplified’, stood for’, ‘typified’, or ‘personified’.
Her passing is a great loss to the British people: you could use ‘death’, or ‘loss’ – except that it’s been used elsewhere in the sentence
Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen: ‘features’, or perhaps ‘badges’
sent his deepest condolences: we’ve seen that several verbs work with ‘condolences’, including ‘offered’, ‘expressed’, and ‘extended’
