anxious seat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, literary, historical (religious context)
Quick answer
What does “anxious seat” mean?
A state of mental unease, worry, or concern, particularly about an uncertain outcome or potential danger.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A state of mental unease, worry, or concern, particularly about an uncertain outcome or potential danger.
A feeling of agitation or nervousness, often accompanied by physical tension; a state of being mentally preoccupied with apprehensive thoughts. In religious history, the 'anxious seat' or 'mourner's bench' was a bench at the front of a church where those concerned about their salvation would sit during revival meetings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The historical religious term is more strongly associated with American revivalist movements (e.g., Charles Finney). In contemporary metaphorical use, it is understood in both varieties but is quite rare and literary. British usage may be slightly more likely to use synonyms like 'state of anxiety'.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary modern connotation is of deep, persistent worry. The historical religious connotation is largely archaic but may be recognized in educated circles.
Frequency
Very low frequency in contemporary language. When used, it is primarily in written, descriptive prose (literary, historical, or psychological contexts).
Grammar
How to Use “anxious seat” in a Sentence
[Subject] be/remain in/on the anxious seat (about/over [object])[Event/Thought] put/keep [subject] in the anxious seatVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anxious seat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The investors were anxiously seated, awaiting the quarterly report.
American English
- The committee's delay seated the applicants in anxiety for months.
adjective
British English
- She had an anxious-seat look about her all afternoon.
American English
- He was in an anxious-seat frame of mind before the interview.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe an executive awaiting a crucial merger decision: 'The CEO was in the anxious seat for weeks before the regulator's ruling.'
Academic
Used in historical or religious studies to refer to the literal practice. In psychology, a metaphorical descriptor for a clinical state of anxious anticipation.
Everyday
Very rare. Would sound old-fashioned or overly literary. More common to say 'a nervous wreck' or 'really worried'.
Technical
Not a clinical term in psychology (cf. 'generalized anxiety', 'anticipatory anxiety'). Its use is descriptive, not diagnostic.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anxious seat”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anxious seat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anxious seat”
- Using it to mean a literal seat that causes anxiety (e.g., 'That wobbly chair is an anxious seat'). Confusing it with 'hot seat', which implies interrogation or intense scrutiny.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is quite rare and literary. In modern English, phrases like 'state of anxiety' or 'nervous wreck' are far more common.
Not in contemporary usage. It is almost always metaphorical. Historically, it did refer to a physical bench in churches.
'Anxious seat' describes an internal state of worry. 'Hot seat' describes a position of intense external pressure, scrutiny, or interrogation.
Learners should treat it as a C1-level, decorative phrase for writing. It is not recommended for casual conversation. Understand it when reading, but use more common synonyms in speech.
A state of mental unease, worry, or concern, particularly about an uncertain outcome or potential danger.
Anxious seat is usually formal, literary, historical (religious context) in register.
Anxious seat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæŋkʃəs siːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæŋ(k)ʃəs sit/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on tenterhooks”
- “in a state of suspense”
- “worrying oneself sick”
- “sitting on pins and needles”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine sitting on a hard, uncomfortable bench labelled 'WORRY', unable to get up – you're stuck in the 'anxious seat'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANXIETY IS A CONFINING PLACE / ANXIETY IS A BURDEN ONE CARRIES.
Practice
Quiz
In its original historical context, what was the 'anxious seat'?