B2 — Upper Intermediate❤️ Love & Family
Tenere qualcuno sulle spine
To keep someone on tenterhooks
Literal Translation
"To keep someone on thorns"
What it means
To keep someone on tenterhooks; to leave someone in suspense. Used when someone deliberately or carelessly delays giving an answer or decision, keeping the other person in anxious suspense. Common in romantic and professional contexts.
Example in context
"Mi ha detto che aveva una risposta importante da darmi, poi mi ha tenuto sulle spine tutta la settimana."
"She told me she had an important answer for me, then kept me on tenterhooks all week."
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