on tenterhooks
US /ˈtɛntərˌhʊks/
UK /ˈtɛntərˌhʊks/
1.
op hete kolen zitten, in spanning
in a state of anxious suspense or expectation
:
•
We were all on tenterhooks waiting for the exam results.
We zaten allemaal op hete kolen te wachten op de examenresultaten.
•
The whole country was on tenterhooks during the election night.
Het hele land zat op hete kolen tijdens de verkiezingsavond.