on the watch
English edit
Prepositional phrase edit
- Alternative form of on watch.
- 1861, George Eliot, chapter 21, in Silas Marner:
- "Come into that little brush-shop and sit down, father—they'll let you sit down," said Eppie, always on the watch lest one of her father's strange attacks should come on.
- 1897, Joseph Conrad, Karain: A Memoir:
- Even when he eats and sleeps there is always one on the watch near him who has strength and weapons.
- 1924 December 1, “Peasants”, in Time:
- His children, married and single, were ever on the watch for what they could get out of him.
- 2007, "WEATHER UPDATE," WBBM780.com (Illinois), 2 Dec.:
- The department also notified its Bureau of Forestry and Electricity to be on the watch for ice on trees and power lines.