From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe on the verge of somethingbe on the verge of somethingALMOSTto be at the point where something is about to happen Jess seemed on the verge of tears. an event which left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown Mountain gorillas are on the verge of extinction.be on the verge of doing something The show was on the verge of being canceled due to low ratings. → verge
Examples from the Corpus
be on the verge of doing something• About how the band were on the verge of splitting up.• I was on the verge of making one last plea when I was propelled backward through the open door.• Only if public order appeared to be on the verge of breaking down would the government contemplate restricting political liberty.• Regrettably two of those who don't get it are on the verge of joining the Bush administration.• She knew he was on the verge of losing his job.• She was on the verge of tears, relieved yet unbelievably desolate.• The Raiders and the Warriors are on the verge of pricing themselves into invisibility.• Their debts were on the verge of managing them. 