Master confusing words with ease
Tenderhooks vs. Tenterhooks
Tenderhooks
/ˌtɛndərˈhʊks/Examples:
She waited on tenderhooks for the exam results.The fans sat on tenderhooks during the penalty shootout.He felt on tenderhooks before proposing on stage.
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Antonyms:
Tenterhooks
Examples:
Anticipation left her on tenterhooks for the entire week.Waiting for the test results kept him on tenterhooks all night.She was on tenterhooks wondering if the job offer would come.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Tenderhooks is a common mispronunciation and misspelling of the correct term tenterhooks.
- Remember tenterhooks by associating it with the phrase on tenterhooks, which means being in suspense or anxiety.
- The word tenter refers to the frame that holds stretched cloth as it dries, and hooks are used to hold the cloth — think of the tension involved in stretching and drying cloth.
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