英语词汇辨析：表示“边缘”的edge、fringe、brink和verge

本期介绍表示“边缘”的四个词汇：edge、fringe、brink、verge

edge

指的是某个表面的边界线，通常指较窄的边沿。

例句：

He stood at the water’s edge staring across the lake.

他站在水边，凝视着湖面。

The tree was growing on the edge of the cliff.

那棵树长在悬崖边上。

fringe

通常指地毯、衣服等装饰性的花边，还可以指“边缘地区以及非主流的群体或活动”。

例句：

Our offices are on the fringe of the city, where rent isn't quite so high.

我们的办公室位于城市的边缘，那里租金不贵。

People on the fringe of the crowd had trouble hearing him.

外围的人听不清楚他在说什么。

The party remained on the fringe of the political scene until last year.

直到去年，该党派都一直处于政治舞台的边缘。

verge和brink

两者皆有抽象意义上“事情即将发生”的意思，指的是临界点。

固定搭配：on the verge/brink of

例句：

The event left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

这件事让她几近精神崩溃。

The company had huge debts and was on the brink of collapse.

这家企业负债累累，濒临倒闭。