Cusp

She was on the cusp of a breakthrough when the fire alarm went off.

We are on the cusp of a big breakthrough.

We're on the cusp of summer now.

We are standing at the cusp of an incredible opportunity.

Newcastle were 11 points adrift of Spurs following their 5-0 mauling at the hands of the north London club in February. But a sixth successive Premier League win puts them on the cusp of European football next season as they surged 15 points clear of seventh-placed Everton, who have five games left to play.

I see freight returning in a big way. The 2016 reconnection of the Helwith Bridge quarries can produce up to three heavy trains a day. The nearby and much bigger Horton quarry is also on the cusp of rail reconnection.