on tenterhooks

The phrase "on tenterhooks" refers to a state of anticipation, suspense, or anxiety, typically resulting from being uncertain or worried about an upcoming event or outcome. It implies a feeling of being on edge or in a state of tension. The term originates from the practice of tentering, where fabric is stretched on a frame called a tenter to dry or be shaped correctly, hence metaphorically suggesting being in a state of figurative stretching or tension.