Quiz: "brim" or "brink"?

The correct answer is: brink

Fears that Greece is on the brink of bankruptcy have returned.

If something is on the brink, it is at the point where a new situation, usually disastrous, is about to begin. We also refer to the edge of a cliff as the brink.

European share prices have fallen again because of growing speculation that Germany is preparing for Greece to default. Peter Altmaier, a senior member of the German government, suggested on Monday that the Greeks should consider making their way to the eurozone exit: "The situation is very serious, more than some had thought," he commented. "Exclusion from the eurozone is not legally possible at the moment. That means the Greeks must decide themselves if they stay in the eurozone or an exit is better for them."

A brim is the bottom part of a hat that sticks out around the outside. The top edge of a container is also called the brim.

"I always wear a hat with a wide brim to the beach to protect my face from the sun."

"I filled my mug to the brim with coffee."