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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Proverbial edge

Hi everyone,

I just wondered what the phrase "push(send, go) sb to(over) the proverbial edge" means as in below sentence. I googled it but what I've only found is that this is commonly and well used expression. I guess it is like drive them crazy...

Not surprisingly, the Bulls' lack of effort (and wins, and scoring, and coaching ...) has pushed some diehard fans to the proverbial edge.
  

Top answer

Driving them ALMOST crazy - to the brink (edge) of insanity, but not quite over. (It's hyperbole, obviously. I don't know of anyone actually driven truly insane by their favorite team's performance.

  • Driving them ALMOST crazy - to the brink (edge) of insanity, but not quite over.
  • (It's hyperbole, obviously.
  • I don't know of anyone actually driven truly insane by their favorite team's performance.
  • )
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2 Answers
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Driving them ALMOST crazy - to the brink (edge) of insanity, but not quite over.

(It's hyperbole, obviously. I don't know of anyone actually driven truly insane by their favorite team's performance. If I could make it through the Patriots-Giants Super Bowl without requiring sedation, then no one really goes truly off the deep end.)
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Hi anon,

To 'push to the edge' means the same as 'push to the limit' as in limit of patience, limit of endurance, limit of strength, etc.

It means more than driving someone crazy, although that can be one of the symptoms: My daughter's repeated temper tantrums in Walmart were driving me crazy! She was pushing my patience to the edge.

Push to the edge means

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