1
on the edge of a precipice
可放在 stand、be、hang 等动词后，表示位于悬崖边缘，也可引申指处于险境。
The castle stands on the edge of a precipice.
这座城堡矗立在悬崖边上。
悬崖；绝壁
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
悬崖；绝壁
a very steep cliff
The castle stands on the edge of a precipice.
这座城堡矗立在悬崖边上。
极陡的悬崖。
A very steep cliff.
悬崖；极陡的峭壁
a very steep cliff
危险处境的边缘。
The brink of a dangerous situation.
We stood at the edge of the precipice and looked down at the valley far below.
我们站在悬崖边缘，俯瞰下面远处的山谷。
The hikers stopped before the precipice, afraid to go any closer.
徒步者们在悬崖前停下，不敢再靠近。
Strong fences have been built along the precipices to prevent accidents.
为防止事故发生，沿着这些悬崖建起了坚固的围栏。
可放在 stand、be、hang 等动词后，表示位于悬崖边缘，也可引申指处于险境。
The castle stands on the edge of a precipice.
这座城堡矗立在悬崖边上。
over 表示从悬崖边跌落；precipice 是可数名词，复数为 precipices。
The hiker almost fell over a precipice.
那位徒步旅行者差点从悬崖上摔下去。
这是比喻用法，后接名词，表示濒临某种危险或失败的局面。
The talks are on the precipice of collapse.
会谈濒临破裂。
Not this
The mountain is precipice.
Use this
The mountain is precipitous.
precipice 是名词，意为“悬崖”，不能作表语形容词；修饰陡峭的山崖应用形容词 precipitous。
Not this
They stood at the edge of precipice.
Use this
They stood at the edge of a precipice.
precipice 是可数名词，单数前需加冠词 a，表示“一处悬崖”。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
悬崖边缘
They camped near the edge of a precipice.
他们在悬崖边缘附近露营。
陡峭的绝壁
A sheer precipice blocked their way.
陡峭的绝壁挡住了他们的去路。
跌落悬崖
He narrowly avoided falling over a precipice.
他差点跌下悬崖。
在悬崖边缘；濒临险境
The country is on the brink of a precipice.
这个国家正处于悬崖边缘。
濒临，即将面临（尤指危险或重大变化）
The country is on the precipice of a major economic crisis.
该国正处于重大经济危机的边缘。
岌岌可危，摇摇欲坠地处于险境
The company is teetering on the precipice of bankruptcy.
这家公司摇摇欲坠，濒临破产。
从危险边缘退后，避免灾难
Both sides need to step back from the precipice and resume negotiations.
双方都需要从悬崖边退后一步，恢复谈判。
Use precipice naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想记忆：precipice 以 pre 开头，把 pre 联想成‘先’，站在绝壁边，先想想危险。
语域：formal 常见场景：地质或地貌描写、文学或游记文本、纪录片解说 precipice 比 cliff 更正式，多用于书面或文学描写，日常口语中通常说 cliff。
这些词与 precipice 拼写相近，但只有 campus 的结尾 /pəs/ 与 precipice 的最后一节发音相同；spice、niece、slice、notice 的 -ice 发音各不相同，precipitate 虽共享前缀拼写，但读音差异很大。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.