brink
brink — 名詞
1. the moment just before something important, dangerous, or completely new starts
關頭；臨界點
事件即將發生的關鍵時刻
the moment just before something important, dangerous, or completely new starts happening — used when a person, country, or situation is so close to that change that it feels almost certain.
After months of secret talks, the two countries were on the brink of signing a peace deal.
經過數月密談，兩國已到了簽署和平協議的關頭。
on the brink of + verb-ing for an imminent event
Nora's small bakery stood on the brink of closing until a local investor stepped in.
Nora 的小麵包店一度瀕臨倒閉，直到一位在地投資人出手。
on the brink of + verb-ing for a feared bad outcome
Doctors said the patient had been brought back from the brink of death twice that week.
醫生說那位病人那週兩度從鬼門關被救了回來。
fixed phrase: from the brink of death
By 1929, the global economy was teetering on the brink of collapse.
到了一九二九年，全球經濟已搖搖欲墜，到了崩盤的臨界點。
collocation: teeter / totter on the brink
Mateo felt he was on the brink of a major discovery in his lab.
Mateo 覺得自己在實驗室裡即將有重大發現。
on the brink of + abstract noun (a positive imminent event)
- on the brink of war
- on the brink of collapse
- on the brink of bankruptcy
- on the brink of extinction
- on the brink of tears
- from the brink of death
- teeter on the brink
- pull back from the brink
- push someone to the brink
- verge
near-identical; 'on the verge of' is interchangeable with 'on the brink of', though 'verge' is slightly more neutral while 'brink' often hints at risk.
- threshold
more formal; suggests a doorway you are about to cross, often used for life stages or new eras.
- edge
more general and concrete; 'on the edge of disaster' works, but 'edge' is also used in many non-temporal senses.
文法句型
on the brink of + noun
on the brink of + verb-ing
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'on the brink of' (or 'from the brink of'). Followed by a noun naming the change (war, collapse, success) or by an '-ing' form naming the action. Rarely used on its own without 'of'.
常見錯誤
2. the narrow strip of ground right where the land drops away sharply — for example
崖邊；岸邊
懸崖、河岸等陡降地形的最邊緣
the narrow strip of ground right where the land drops away sharply — for example along a river bank, beside a deep canyon, or at the very top of a steep rock face.
Hana crawled the last few metres and peered cautiously over the brink of the cliff.
Hana 爬了最後幾公尺，小心翼翼地探頭望向崖邊下方。
the brink of + cliff/cliff-like feature
Two wild horses were drinking at the brink of the river when the storm broke.
暴風雨來襲時，兩匹野馬正在河岸邊喝水。
the brink of a river / lake (the very edge of the bank)
A single pine tree clung to the brink of the canyon, its roots half exposed.
一棵松樹緊攀在峽谷的崖邊，樹根半露在外。
literal, physical edge of a drop
Children were warned not to play near the brink of the old quarry pool.
大人警告孩子們不要在舊採石場水池的邊緣玩耍。
warning context — danger of falling
- brink of the cliff
- brink of the canyon
- brink of the river
- stand at the brink
- peer over the brink
- step back from the brink
- edge
the everyday word; works for any boundary, sharp or flat. 'Brink' is reserved for drops.
- verge
literary; can mean the strip of grass beside a road, so the overlap with 'brink' is partial.
- rim
used for round features — the rim of a canyon, crater, or bowl. 'Brink' suits straight or river edges better.
- middle
the centre, opposite of the outer edge.
文法句型
the brink of + noun (cliff / river / pool)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names a physical edge you can stand on or fall from, not a moment in time. Most often paired with 'of the cliff / of the river / of the canyon'. In everyday English, 'edge' is far more common; 'brink' here is slightly literary.
常見錯誤
同根字
- brinkmanship名詞C2
常見搭配
常用片語
- teeter on the brink
- pull back from the brink
- step back from the brink
- bring someone back from the brink
- push someone to the brink
介系詞搭配
- on the brink of
- from the brink of
- at the brink of
- over the brink