brink
B2formal, journalistic, literary, metaphorical
Definition
Meaning
the extreme edge or margin of something, especially where a dramatic change or fall is imminent.
A point of transition just before a significant, often critical, event or state; the verge of an occurrence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Nearly always used metaphorically (e.g., 'brink of war', 'brink of discovery') rather than for literal, physical edges (where 'edge' or 'rim' is more common). Implies high stakes and a pivotal moment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use it primarily in the same set phrases and metaphors.
Connotations
Identical connotations of danger, excitement, or critical change.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British news media, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/stand/teeter] on the brink of [NOUN/ GERUND]push/pull [someone/something] to/from the brink of [NOUN]bring [someone/something] to the brinkVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the brink”
- “teetering on the brink”
- “push someone to the brink”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company was on the brink of bankruptcy before the rescue package.
Academic
The theory brought physics to the brink of a paradigm shift.
Everyday
I was on the brink of tears when I heard the news.
Technical
The ecosystem is on the brink of irreversible collapse.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (No standard verb use)
American English
- (No standard verb use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb use)
American English
- (No standard adverb use)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective use)
American English
- (No standard adjective use)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The glass was full to the brink.
- She was on the brink of leaving her job.
- The negotiations brought the two countries back from the brink of conflict.
- Years of habitat loss have pushed the species to the very brink of extinction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRINK as the BRINK of a cliff – one more step and you fall. It’s the critical last moment before something major happens.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANT CHANGE IS A PRECIPICE/EDGE (e.g., 'on the brink of success/failure').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'берег' (shore/coast). The closer conceptual match is 'грань' or 'край' (в значении критической точки). 'На грани' is the direct equivalent of 'on the brink of'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for literal, non-critical edges (e.g., 'the brink of the plate' – use 'rim'). Confusing 'brink' (critical point) with 'brim' (top edge of a container).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'brink' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though less common. e.g., 'on the brink of a major discovery' or 'on the brink of success'. The word emphasises the imminence of change, not its valence.
'Edge' is more general and literal (edge of a table, forest). 'Brink' is almost always metaphorical and implies a critical, dramatic change is about to happen.
It is more common in formal, journalistic, and literary contexts than in casual conversation, where 'verge' or 'point' might be used more simply.
Rarely used in plural. The plural 'brinks' is theoretically possible but highly unusual, as the concept is typically singular and abstract.