on the verge of war

collocation in English

meaningsofon,vergeandwar

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withverge.
on
preposition
uk
/ɒn/us
/ɑːn/
used to show that something is in a position above something else and touching it, or that something is moving into such ...
See more aton
verge
noun[C]
uk
/vɜːdʒ/us
/vɝːdʒ/
the edge or border ...
See more atverge
war
noun[C or U]
uk
/wɔːr/us
/wɔːr/
armed fighting between two or more countries or groups, or a particular example ...
See more atwar

(Definition ofon,vergeandwarfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofon the verge of war

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
The two countries were brought almost to thevergeofwar.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Two months later, we were on thevergeofwar.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Make them push him to thevergeofwar, or even into war.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The country was brought to thevergeofwar.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There are times when a country is not actually at war but on thevergeofwar.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Sometimes they have brought us almost to thevergeofwar, and every time some grave weakness has been exposed.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
If it had led this country to thevergeofwar, it would have been a war that was fought to support the collective peace system.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But why should they venture to bring this country to thevergeofwareven to preserve £.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
If my noble friend will forgive me, the matter is of such immense importance as by common consent we are on thevergeofwar.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Tonight we are on thevergeofwar.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The clans are on thevergeofwar.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
He believed that the whole region was on thevergeofwarand went out to investigate.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofon
Go to the definition ofverge
Go to the definition ofwar
See other collocations withverge