提心吊胆
tí​xīn​diào​dǎn HSK7

on tenterhooks

  1. 提 tí verb
    to raise
    to lift; to raise; to promote to a higher position or level
  2. 心 xīn noun
    heart
    the physical organ that pumps blood; refers to the chest area where the heart is located
  3. 吊 diào nounverb
    to hang
    to hang up; to suspend; to hang a person by the neck
  4. 胆 膽 dǎn nounadjective
    courage
    Bravery or guts; derived from the traditional Chinese belief that the gallbladder is the source of a person's courage.