I am about to and I am on the point of

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi Everybody! Tell me please the difference in the usage following expressions
I am about to
and
I am on the point of
Terminator :evil:
Many thanks

2

Hi Terminator,

Both expressions - ‘to be about to’ and ‘to be on the point of’ describe a fixed or decided event - not necessarily with the idea of personal intention as the following expamples show:

‘The negotiations are on the point of collapsing’
‘The negotiations are about to collapse.’

‘She is about to give up on her article.’
‘She is on the point of giving up on her article.’[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, question-response: You wouldn’t happen to have change for a dollar, would you?[YSaerTTEW443543]

3

Hi Torsten!
Are these expressions interchangable?

4

Hi again,

Yes, both constructions mean almost exactly the same thing with ‘to be about to’ being a bit more popular.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, question-response: Will that be cash, check, or charge?[YSaerTTEW443543]

5

could you please explain me about the word" in term of "?

6

ldoceonline.com/dictionary/term_1
in terms of something
if you explain or describe something in terms of a particular fact or event, you are explaining or describing it only in relation to that fact or event