| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| on the throne |
sitting on the toilet, in the john
|
Archie's on the throne. He'll be down in a few minutes.
|
| on the tip of my tongue |
almost able to recall, beginning to remember
|
Her name is on the tip of my tongue. It begins with K.
|
| on the up and up |
legal, within the law, not underhanded
|
If a company gives away cars, can it be on the up and up?
|
| on the verge |
close, nearly, almost doing it
|
Our baby is on the verge of talking. She said, "Da-da."
|
| on the wagon |
not drinking liquor, not getting drunk
|
The old man is on the wagon. He promised he wouldn't drink.
|
| on the wane |
decreasing, diminishing
|
The number of men who smoke is on the wane. It's decreasing.
|
| on the whole |
generally, considering the whole group or situation
|
On the whole, women are making progress toward equal status.
|
| on the wing |
flying, in flight
|
Canada geese were on the wing, going south for the winter.
|
| on the wing |
without a plan, creating as you go, wing it
|
Paul can perform on the wing - he has a great imagination!
|
| on thin ice |
in a risky position, in danger
|
His grades are very low in this course. He's on thin ice.
|