提心吊胆 (tí xīn diào dǎn): Live in fear / be on tenterhooks (verb/idiom) — Meaning & Stroke Order

Upon learning that the company was about to lay off employees, all staff members waited for the final list on tenterhooks.

You've been living in fear lately; are you hiding something from us?

Despite the high risks, he was not on tenterhooks; instead, he calmly formulated a response strategy.

During sharp fluctuations in the investment market, many novice investors inevitably live in fear and cannot sleep at night.