to the brink of 復習

米国中西部で、ハイイロオオカミが絶滅危惧種から正式に除外されました。

Midwest wolves may find themselves in the crosshairs again

Gray wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan could again find themselves in hunters' crosshairs — possibly as soon as this fall if federal protections are removed for the predators.

A ruling is expected soon from an appeals court that recently lifted protections for wolves in Wyoming. In Congress, wolf-hunting supporters aren't giving up even though a Minnesota representative was instrumental in killing an effort that would have allowed the three western Great Lakes states to resume wolf hunting.

Gray wolves were once hunted to the brink of extinction in most of the country, but they recovered under Endangered Species Act protections and reintroduction programs. They now number over 5,500 in the lower 48 states, including nearly 3,800 in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/midwest-wolves-find-crosshairs-47256282

記事の中で気になった表現は"to the brink of"です。

『ジーニアス英和辞典』第4版(大修館)で"brink"を引いてみると、"bring A to the brink of B"で「A(人)をB(死、滅亡など)のふちに追いやる」とありました。

ハイイロオオカミはかつて狩によって絶滅の危機に瀕しましたが、保護団体によって絶滅の危機から逃れることができ、生息数が回復してきています。

LDOCEでは、"to be very close to being in an unpleasant or dangerous situation"と定義されていました。(Akim)

on the brink of#4 - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から
on the brink of #3 - 田邉祐司ゼミ 常時英心：言葉の森から