Anxious seat
Also called anxious bench. Chiefly North Atlantic States and Southern and South Midland U.S. a seat reserved at a revival meeting for those troubled by conscience and eager for spiritual assistance.
a state of anxiety, especially about the outcome of a vote, negotiation, etc.:
Strikers have been in the anxious seat for the last three days.
Historical Examples
Let each worshiper be a mourner over his sins, each pew an anxious seat.
The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church G. H. Gerberding
Ill turn up some day in the anxious seat when you dont expect me.
A Singular Life Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
During this time Mrs. Dare had been on the anxious seat, so to speak.
The Dare Boys of 1776 Stephen Angus Cox
That took him off of the anxious seat and put him on the solid.
The Adventures of a Forty-niner Daniel Knower
Both, certainly, were new, and both prescribed one capital and fundamental principle-‘the anxious seat.’
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 2, August 1837 Various
There now were nine applicants on the anxious seat in the reception room.
Certain Success Norval A. Hawkins
I have been on the anxious seat ever since I received your telegram.
Randy of the River Horatio Alger Jr.
A smile illumined his pleasant features as he remembered that Mr. Bobo, like himself, was sitting upon the anxious seat.
Bunch Grass Horace Annesley Vachell
They kept persistently after us, and we were more or less on the anxious seat, till it did get dark.
Raw Gold Bertrand W. Sinclair
Publishers are now sometimes kept on the anxious seat for months awaiting decisions which may wreck their businesses.
The Development of Rates of Postage A. D. Smith
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- Anxiously
full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: Her parents were anxious about her poor health. earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for): anxious to please; anxious for our happiness. attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: anxious forebodings. Contemporary Examples On Sunday, the […]
- Anxiousness
full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous: Her parents were anxious about her poor health. earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive or for): anxious to please; anxious for our happiness. attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness: anxious forebodings. Historical Examples Was it to […]
- Anybody
any person. a person of some importance: If you’re anybody, you’ll receive an invitation. anybody’s guess, a matter of conjecture: It’s anybody’s guess why she quit. Contemporary Examples We never imagined, it never occurred to us that anybody would consider it violent. Palin’s Other Arizona ‘Targets’ Shushannah Walshe January 9, 2011 “As anybody who has […]
- Any day
No particular time, as in It doesn’t matter when; any day is fine with me. Also, any day now. Quite soon, as in I might get a call any day, or There could be a snowstorm any day now. Also, any day of the week. Every day, as in I could eat fresh corn any […]
- Any key
any key humour, hardware The key that particularly confused users look for on their computer keyboards when instructed to “Press any key to continue”. “But my keyboard doesn’t have a key labelled ‘any’!”. Compaq FAQ (http://web14.compaq.com/falco/detail.asp?FAQnum=FAQ2859). (2003-09-30)