on / at the edge – English Vocabulary – English – The Free Dictionary Language Forums
Hello!!))) What is the difference between these two expressions? When can they be used? They built a church on the edge of the village. They built a church at the edge of the village.
Here’s what I think: “on the edge” to be positioned on ST, like on the edge of a cliff. In your example, the church is then built inside the city’s boundaries. “at the edge” to be positioned close to the edge of ST, like at the water’s edge (but not in the sea) In your example, the church is then built outside the city’s boundaries.
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AlyonaSunlight wrote:
Hello!!)))
What is the difference between these two expressions? When can they be used?
They built a church on the edge of the village.
They built a church at the edge of the village.
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In my view, the use of either “
on
” or “
at
” is possible before “
the edge of
” in the above question. The choice of preposition will depend on a proper understanding of the following:
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English mentions:
[countable noun] the part of a town, city etc that is farthest from the centre
on the edge (of)
– My uncle’s house is
on the edge of
town, near the airport.
– Gretel lives in a simple cottage
on the edge of
the forest.
The Oxford Dictionary mentions the use of “on the edge of” to indicate an area next to a steep drop”. A few examples with this sense are:
– He set the ashtray down
on the edge of
the table.
– She sat down
on the edge of
the bed and stared at the floor.
There are several different meanings of the idiomatic expression “
on the edge of
”. One of them is “
in suspense; waiting eagerly or anxiously for some resolution
”
– The movie had me
on the edge of my seat
right from the beginning.
– This film will keep you
on the edge of your seat
.
One more expression using “
on
” is:
On the edge of
: (= on the verge of) close to the point at which something different, especially something bad, will happen:
– Their economy is
on the edge of
collapse.
– She is
on the edge of
despair.
– He was
on the edge of
winning the election when the sex scandal broke.
There is one interesting explanation that I have come across to explain the use of “
at
”. When “edge” is used as an uncountable noun, the expression “at the edge of” means “the area that you can see”.
–
At the edge
of the desolate valley, overlooking the golden domes and minarets of Opar, Tarzan halted.
– She could see a figure
at the edge of
her vision.
– A number of javalinas appeared
at the edge of
the forest.
– It had been built just
at the edge of
the desert, so that all its length lay upon the gray sand except the after part, which still rested on the strip of grass.
– We camped right
at the edge
of the desert.
“
At
” is also used to indicate location (From TFD).
– My senses reeled; I felt myself falling, and in clutching
at the edge
of the door for support pushed it shut with a sharp click!
In my view, the use of either “” or “” is possible before “” in the above question. The choice of preposition will depend on a proper understanding of the following:mentions:- My uncle’s house istown, near the airport.- Gretel lives in a simple cottagethe forest.mentions the use of “on the edge of” to indicate an area next to a steep drop”. A few examples with this sense are:- He set the ashtray downthe table.- She sat downthe bed and stared at the floor.There are several different meanings of the idiomatic expression “”. One of them is “- The movie had meright from the beginning.- This film will keep youOne more expression using “” is:: (= on the verge of) close to the point at which something different, especially something bad, will happen:- Their economy iscollapse.- She isdespair.- He waswinning the election when the sex scandal broke.There is one interesting explanation that I have come across to explain the use of “”. When “edge” is used as an uncountable noun, the expression “at the edge of” means “the area that you can see”.of the desolate valley, overlooking the golden domes and minarets of Opar, Tarzan halted.- She could see a figureher vision.- A number of javalinas appearedthe forest.- It had been built justthe desert, so that all its length lay upon the gray sand except the after part, which still rested on the strip of grass.- We camped rightof the desert.” is also used to indicate location (From TFD).- My senses reeled; I felt myself falling, and in clutchingof the door for support pushed it shut with a sharp click!
