brink
The country was on the brink of war.
Das Land stand am Rand des Krieges.
Grenze zwischen Sicherheit und Gefahr
Scientists warned that the ecosystem is on the brink of collapse.
Wissenschaftler warnten, dass das Ökosystem am Rande des Zusammenbruchs steht.
She was on the brink of tears after hearing the news.
Sie stand kurz davor, in Tränen auszubrechen, nachdem sie die Nachricht gehört hatte.
Often used metaphorically to describe a critical or precarious situation.
Kollokationen
Profi-Tipp
Metaphorical vs. Literal Use
Use 'brink' to emphasize a critical or precarious situation, not a physical edge. For example, 'on the brink of war' (metaphorical) vs. not 'on the brink of the table' (literal edge).
Goldene Regel
Formal Tone
'Brink' is typically used in formal writing or speech. It is not common in casual conversation.
Wortursprung
From Middle English 'brink' (edge, shore), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'brink' (field, meadow) and German 'Berg' (mountain).
Verwendungshinweise
Primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe a critical threshold. Avoid using it for literal edges (e.g., a table's brink) unless in a metaphorical sense.