stå på ruinens brant

Swedish

Etymology

stå (“stand”) +‎ på (“on”) +‎ ruinens (“the ruin's”) +‎ brant (“precipice”)

Verb

stå på ruinens brant (present står på ruinens brant, preterite stod på ruinens brant, supine stått på ruinens brant, imperative stå på ruinens brant)

  1. (idiomatic) to be close to (financial or psychological) collapse; to be on the brink of ruin, to be on the verge of a mental breakdown, etc.

Usage notes

Sometimes with variations, for example "driva någon till ruinens brant" (drive someone to the precipice of ruin).

References
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