tenterhook

[ ten-ter-hoo k ]

/ ˈtɛn tərˌhʊk /

one of the hooks or bent nails that hold cloth stretched on a tenter.

on tenterhooks, in a state of uneasy suspense or painful anxiety: The movie keeps one on tenterhooks until the very last moment.

Origin of tenterhook

First recorded in 1470–80; tenter + hook¹

Not to say Riva, the veteran screen star, is on tenterhooks.

Oscar’s 85-Year-Old Darling: A Talk With Emmanuelle Riva of ‘Amour’ |Tracy McNicoll |February 15, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Every attorney at his firm is hanging on tenterhooks waiting for the bonus announcements.

The D.C. Sex Blogger on How She Went From Slut to Housewife |Jessica Cutler |December 10, 2008 |DAILY BEAST
As for Halstead, though he remained outwardly cool and collected, these were days when he secretly lived on tenterhooks.

The Motor Boat Club in Florida |H. Irving Hancock
I waited on tenterhooks; then I could bear the suspense no longer.'

Chatterbox, 1906 |Various

He took a pinch of snuff, he blew his nose with stately deliberation—all in order to keep the petitioner waiting on tenterhooks.

Petticoat Rule |Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
She felt restless during that week—on tenterhooks to know if she should see the Duke; hot and cold as she went into a room.

The Career of Katherine Bush |Elinor Glyn
It is the profound intuition of the truth that keeps me on tenterhooks.

The Crystal Stopper |Maurice LeBlanc

tenterhook

/ (ˈtɛntəˌhʊk) /

one of a series of hooks or bent nails used to hold cloth stretched on a tenter

on tenterhooks in a state of tension or suspense

tenterhooks

see on tenterhooks.