on the brink of
Facing a new event that's about to happen.
"I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced.
on the cheap
Inexpensively; on a tight budget.
She buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores.
on the contrary
Exactly the opposite; rather; instead.
The principal thought that the children went to the zoo; on the contrary, they went to the bakery.
"You don't like football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very much."
on the cuff
Agreeing to pay later; to be paid for later; on credit.
Peter lost the money that Mother gave him to buy meat, and the store would not let him have meat on the cuff.
Many people buy cars and television sets on the cuff.
on the dole
Drawing unemployment benefits.
Получать пособие по безработице.
When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it.
Their father is on the dole so the family is living on a tight budget.
Их отец получает пособие, поэтому у семьи скудный бюджет.
on the dot
on the button
Exactly on time; not early and not late.
Susan arrived at the party at 2:00 P.M. on the dot.
Ben's plane arrived on the dot.
At the right place; at the heart of the matter.
John's remark was right on the button.
on the double!
Hurry up!
"Let's go! On the double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the engine of the small plane.
Very quickly, immediately.
I deeply regret throwing you under the bus and I beg your pardon. I let my emotions get the better part of me, even knowing that you would have been here on the double.
on the eve of
Just before (an event).
On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes.