drop the edge of yonder
The brink of death. About as far gone as a body can get.
Also called drop edge of yonder, on the drop edge of yonder.
Updated September 21, 2026
drop the edge of yonder pronunciation
/DROP thuh ej uv YAHN-der/
Meaning
Not a direction you walk. When somebody is on the drop edge of yonder (or "the drop edge of yonder"), they are hanging at death's door. Yonder here means the far side of this life, and the drop edge is the last skinny ledge before you tip over. Old Tennessee and Appalachian talk used it for folks fading fast, or for a lonely place that feels halfway to the next world.
How folks use it
- “After that fever, Granny was on the drop edge of yonder for three straight nights.”
- “That old fort sat out on the drop edge of yonder, miles from anything living.”
Origin and etymology
Southern and Appalachian, especially Tennessee. Dictionary of American Regional English records drop edge of yonder as the brink of death. Writers and oral history keep the picture: an edge, and yonder as what lies past it. Exact first speaker is murky, but the sense is solid in regional collections.
Frequently asked questions
Does this mean go over yonder?
No. Plain "yonder" can mean over there. This whole phrase is about being near death, not giving directions.