anvil

be on the anvil

To be in a formative but immature or unready state; to be in the midst of being prepared, discussed, planned, etc., but not yet ready. The details of the proposed merger are still on the anvil, but we should see something ready before the end of the summer. There are a couple of projects that have been on the anvil since the new manager came on board, but nothing has taken any definite shape as yet.
See also: anvil, on

between the hammer and the anvil

Facing two equally unpleasant, dangerous, or risky alternatives, where the avoidance of one ensures encountering the harm of the other. I was between the hammer and the anvil, for if I didn't take out another loan—and go deeper into debt—I could not pay off the debts I already owed. The police knew with certainty he had drugs in his car, so he became trapped between the hammer and the anvil: either lie to the police, or admit that the drugs belonged to him.
See also: and, anvil, between, hammer

on the anvil

In a formative but immature or unready state; being prepared, discussed, planned, etc., but not yet ready. The details of the proposed merger are still on the anvil, but we should see something ready before the end of the summer. I've had a couple of projects on the anvil recently, but nothing has taken any definite shape yet.
See also: anvil, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • be on the anvil
  • on the anvil
  • in (one's) midst
  • in our, their, its, etc. midst
  • midst
  • in the midst
  • in the home stretch
  • on the home straight
  • on the home straight/stretch
  • on the home stretch
References in periodicals archive
Canadian band anvil inspired metallica, slayer and anthrax with their debut album metal on metal but, instead of hitting the big time, the band drift into comparative obscurity.
High notes from a tale of obscurity; ANVIL - THE STORY OF ANVIL (15) VERDICT: *****
Once the surface is primed with Anvil 1750, the decorative concrete contractor or homeowner can also use Anvil 1700 High Performance Epoxy Show Coat to provide a durable satin finish resistant to chemicals, oil, gasoline, fading and hot tire pick-up.
Anvil launches new bonding primer
The agency edition of the Employee Travel Monitoring Service (ETMS) from the Anvil Group, a crisis avoidance services company, has been selected by Omega World Travel (Omega), a travel management company, enabling the monitoring of air and rail travel and accommodation-only reservations.
Omega World Travel selects Anvil Group's ETMS
Event promoter Rob O'Connor, said the shows have been inspired by the success of Anvil and Bob.
Have fun time at the seaside
Investing out of their initial USD 150,000,000 Anvil Energy Partners I fund, Anvil continues to seek strong sponsor partners with deep knowledge in the upstream E&P space who require acquisition, refinance and development capital for producing assets.
Anvil Energy funds USD 11m acquisition financing
Ketchum, a global communications consultancy, and France-based Michelin have received the Best of Silver Anvil award for Michelin North America's 'Teens Prove Their #StreetTread' campaign, according to the Public Relations Society of America.
Ketchum and Michelin receive Best of Silver Anvil award
Thankfully, another option indeed at the top of the list for most Filipino authors is Anvil Publishing, established in 1990 as a subsidiary of the giant National Book Store chain founded in 1942 by the Ramoses.
An avatar of good writing and reading
The awarding was held on March 15, 2019 at the Century Seafood Restaurant during the induction of Anvil's new set of officers where Dr.
Dr. Lucio C. Tan conferred inaugural ALAB Award by Anvil Business Club
This provided a novel opportunity to characterize the vertical wind shear and static stability within the thunderstorm anvil (FP2, in the figure), at its downstream edge (FP6), and at an upstream location (FP3) unaffected by the UTLS outflow.
TRAPPED GRAVITY WAVES AND THEIR LINK WITH TURBULENCE IN A THUNDERSTORM ANVIL
ComCo Southeast Asia harvested 10 metals at the recent 54th Anvil Awards organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
GOINGS-ON: ComCo Southeast Asia sweeps 10 honors
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Philippines bagged a Gold Anvil trophy during the 54th Anvil Awards held at the Marriot Hotel Manila in Pasay City.
Singapore Tourism Board bags Gold Anvil for campaign inspiring travelers to live up their passions
Kate Middleton was recently photographed by Karen Anvil, the single mom who also took the picture of the royal with Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle on Christmas Day in 2017.
Kate Middleton's Candid BAFTAs Photo Taken By Single Mom Karen Anvil
Karen Anvil, 40, took the picture of Meghan Markle stroking her bump at Sandringham where last year she captured Princes Harry and William with Kate and Meghan greeting wellwishers.
'Meghan's bump' caught by amateur Norfolk photographer
Karen Anvil's life was transformedafter she sold last year's picture to newspapers around the world.
Meghan Markle cradles her growing bump in cute pictures from Sandringham; Karen Anvil, who captured Prince William and Kate Middleton alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Christmas Day service last year, has wowed again with her photography
Stedman offers an externally adjustable and visually indicated anvil ring for Stedman vertical shaft impactors.
New Stedman VSI Anvil Ring Design