on tiptoe
on tiptoe — 慣用語
1. feeling excited and eagerly anticipating something about to happen, as if ready
翹首期盼
形容興奮期待或警覺的狀態
feeling excited and eagerly anticipating something about to happen, as if ready to act the moment it begins
The children were on tiptoe all morning, waiting for the birthday party to finally begin.
孩子們整個早上都在翹首期盼，等著生日派對終於開始。
phrase used for eager anticipation
Mira had been on tiptoe all week, counting the days until her flight to Kyoto.
Mira 整個星期都翹首期盼，數著日子直到她飛往京都的那一天。
on tiptoe + time duration
With the announcement due at noon, the staff were on tiptoe with nervous excitement.
由於公告預計在中午發布，全體員工都緊張又興奮地翹首期盼。
The Okonkwo family was on tiptoe as the college acceptance letters began to arrive.
Okonkwo 一家人都在翹首期盼大學錄取通知書寄來。
Caleb was on tiptoe backstage, peeking through the curtain at the growing crowd.
Caleb 在後臺興奮地翹首期盼，隔著幕簾偷看越來越多的觀眾。
- eager
direct adjective describing the feeling, less vivid than the idiom
- on edge
implies nervous tension rather than positive excitement
- on pins and needles
stronger sense of anxious waiting, often less positive
- keyed up
informal, suggests nervous energy
- indifferent
lack of interest or concern, opposite of eager anticipation
- unmoved
not affected emotionally, opposite of being aroused or alert
文法句型
be on tiptoe
be on tiptoe with [emotion]
be on tiptoe for [event]
用法筆記
Commonly appears as a predicate after the verb 'be'. The phrase draws on the physical image of someone literally rising onto their toes to get a better view — it describes a state of heightened readiness or anticipation. Distinguish from the literal meaning (standing or walking on the tips of one's toes), which is also common and follows the same syntax but describes physical posture rather than an emotional state.