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tender hooks 

Firstly, it is tenter hooks, not tender hooks. It means waiting with anxiety. Tenter is a rack for drying cloth and a tenter hook is a nail with an upward curve on which the cloth is hung.
I was on tenter hooks until the test results arrived. Tender hooks do not exist and if they did, they would ne inefective because they are tender.
tender hooks by Bernie Dworkin August 9, 2009
Related Words

Tenter Hooked 

That nervous feeling one gets before a big meeting or a huge life changing event. Same feeling one gets after a eating Chinese food and 30 minutes later you can feel it in your gut
This interview tomorrow has got me Tenter Hooked, I should probably stay away from Taco Bell or Wok and Roll tonight
Tenter Hooked by Mrbritches August 8, 2019

Tenterhooks 

An english saying. If someone is on tenterhooks, they are very nervous/excited about something that they are waiting for, and possibly dreading.
"Gee whiz, I was on tenterhooks beuase she hadn't turned up to our 5th year anniversary date yet. Turns out, she dumped me in a voicemail."
Tenterhooks by reavreav August 19, 2008

Tenderhooks 

To keep on edge, anxious. From the Blur song 'Tender' which is featured on the album 13. A 'Tender-hook' refers to the fact that the 'hook' of the song is merely a build-up to next song on the album 'Bugman', which is a far more cathartic expression of distorted electric guitars. It is also an updated version of the archaic phrase "tenterhooks" used by pedant pricks who simply have no fun when it comes to language. I mean, just who do you think you are? An 18th century dressmaker? Get over yourself, grandad.
Jimmy loved Blur so was on tenderhooks at the new Blur song coming out. Unfortunately, they disbanded so Jimmy killed himself.

Tenterhooked 

The state of anticipation elicited by online dating, In particular the period leading to a first face to face.
"Oh man has that gal got me tenterhooked! Can't wait to meet her for real."
It is said of the situation where a person has the bad luck to make contact with his testicles against an undefined surface or object, intentioned or not.
Given the nature of the word, it is more appropriate to design cases where the interaction is made with a moving object, for example, a ball.
Although it is extremely painful for the victim, it tends to be considerably funny to people who witness it.
Today in the baseball game the pitcher took a nutshot; the baseball hit him in the nuts.

Man, I just watched the funniest nutshot video ever.
Nutshot by Uberflaven March 1, 2009
Word of the Day on June 26, 2026