edge
noun
uk/edʒ/ usget/gain/have an edge (over/on sb/sth)
to get or have an advantage in a particular situation:
Internet banks may have the edge over their old-technology rivals when it comes to charges and rates, but they are not immune from complaints.
give sb an edge (over/on sb/sth)
to give someone an advantage in a particular situation:
A consortium of private-equity investors gave the group the edge in the competition to acquire MGM.
lose your edge
to no longer have an advantage that you used to have:
Over the years, Germany to some extent lost its edge as a manufacturing base because of cheaper wages in Eastern Europe.
be on the edge of sth
to nearly be in a particular situation, or to be close to achieving something:
Scientists hope we are on the edge of a new and greener economy.
push sb/sth over the edge
to put someone or something into a difficult or dangerous situation:
As the number of house repossessions and bankruptcies increases, those already struggling with debt could be pushed over the edge.
See also
competitive edge
cutting-edge
leading edge
edge
verb [ I or T ]
uk/edʒ/ usedge (sth) down/lower
to get less or lower by a small amount, or to make something do this:
Sales edged down from $1.775 billion to $1.772 billion in the fourth quarter.
edge (sth) up/higher
to increase by a small amount, or to make something do this:
There is still some nervousness that US authorities might try to edge up interest rates to support the dollar after its recent falls.
Phrasal verb
edge sb/sth out