The Clue
1988 Dick Francis thriller, with "The" (4 letter answer)
The Answer
EDGE
Tags
Notes
The answer EDGE is very common and appears about once every 37 puzzles.
Related Clues
Advantage
Bezel
Brink
Cusp
Flange
Fringe
Hem
Lip
Rim
Sidle
Verge
Advance gradually
Betting advantage
John Lindsay's "The ___"
Just beat
Leg up
Maugham's "The Razor's ___"
Move cautiously
Move hesitantly
Nose (out)
Part of a box
Racer's need
Sedative target, with "the"
Sharp quality
Slight advantage
Touch of acrimony
TV's "The ___ of Night"
Beat out barely
Part that's sharp
Successful gambler's asset
Definition
EDGE as a noun:
1. (edge, border) = the boundary of a surface
2. a sharp side formed by the intersection of two surfaces of an object; "he rounded the edges of the box"
3. (boundary, edge, bound) = a line determining the limits of an area
4. (edge, sharpness) = the attribute of urgency; "his voice had an edge to it"
5. a slight competitive advantage; "he had an edge on the competition"
6. (edge, margin) = a strip near the boundary of an object; "he jotted a note on the margin of the page"
EDGE as a verb:
1. (edge, inch) = advance slowly, as if by inches; "He edged towards the car"
2. (border, edge) = provide with a border or edge; "edge the tablecloth with embroidery"
3. (border, adjoin, edge, abut, march, butt, butt against, butt on) = lie adjacent to another or share a boundary; "Canada adjoins the U.S."; "England marches with Scotland"
4. provide with an edge; "edge a blade"