Are on Tenterhooks Meaning?

The saying 'to be on tenterhooks' originated from this method of controlled drying, used to mean being in a state of uneasiness, anxiety, or suspense.

How do you use tenterhooks in a sentence?

1. We were kept on tenterhooks for hours while the judges chose the winner. 2. She had been on tenterhooks all night, expecting Joe to return at any moment.

Why is it called tenterhooks?

It comes from the Latin word tentus, which means “to stretch.” The word 'tenterhooks' comes from the metal hooks that manufacturers used to stretch wool on a tenter while it dried.