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on the eve of

Idioms  
  1. Just prior to, as in On the eve of the conference the main speaker backed out. This expression uses eve, literally “the night before,” more loosely. [Late 1700s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He said on the eve of the attack Tehran wouldn't "give us what we have to have".

From BBC

The City Section’s winningest football coach with 300 career wins and a longtime P.E. teacher at Crenshaw High was placed on administrative leave last August on the eve of Crenshaw’s football opener.

From Los Angeles Times

On the eve of the T20 World Cup Brook admitted lying about being on his own that night to protect his teammates at the time.

From Barron's

On the eve of a corruption investigation, he dematerialized from a New York street in 1930, perhaps carrying thousands of dollars from checks he’d just had cashed.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite a stuttering group campaign, Brook's side are returning to the venue where they swept a T20 series against Sri Lanka 3-0 this month on the eve of the T20 World Cup.

From Barron's