http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312605Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:04:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:312605Marius Hancu0http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312605http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-312605.xmlAnonymous wrote: I agree - both mean much the same thing, but I think "on the brink" is used more when it's something negative ie on the brink of war, brink of bankruptcy, on the brink of a nervous breakdown, on the brink of disaster. Well, I'd have thought the same, but look here: -------- on the verge of Close to, on the brink of , as in I was on the verge of calling the doctor when he suddenly got better , or Sara was on the verge of tears when she heard the news . This term uses verge in the sense of "the brink or border of something." http://www.answers.com/topic/on-the-verge-of -------http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312551Tue, 26 May 2009 19:04:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:312551Anonymous1http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312551http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-312551.xmlI agree - both mean much the same thing, but I think "on the brink" is used more when it's something negative ie on the brink of war, brink of bankruptcy, on the brink of a nervous breakdown, on the brink of disaster.http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312391Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:04:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:312391Simi2http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312391http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-312391.xmlOh, okay, Thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312386Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:04:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:312386Grammar Geek3http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htm#312386http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-312386.xmlThey have the same meaning to me. Both mean something is just about to happen.http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htmSun, 26 Apr 2009 19:04:34 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:312385Simi4http://www.englishforums.com/English/RelationshipBetweenIdioms/dmjpk/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-312385.xmlHi, Are the two idioms "On the verge of something" and "On the brink of something" opposite in sense to each other? And if yes, why so? Thanks!