Definition of "tenterhooks" [tenterhooks]

• Plural form of tenterhook. (noun)

Wiktionary.org : Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

• "The AbitibiBowater paper mill near Liverpool is expected to reopen as planned next week, though the community is on "tenterhooks" as the company seeks bankruptcy protection, the mayor of the region says."
• "Today you mentioned being on "tender hooks '"; I believe the term is actually "tenterhooks" implying a state of anxiety (and actually, in origin, is related to the manufacture of cloth!)."
• "The 16-strong team was on "tenterhooks" over the delicate bid to separate Trishna and Krishna, aged two, which will take about 16 hours, plastic surgeon Tony Holmes told reporters at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital."