anxious seat

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

anx′ious seat′, 

1. Dialect Terms Also called anx′ious bench′. [Chiefly North Atlantic States and Southern and South Midland U.S.] a seat reserved at a revival meeting for those troubled by conscience and eager for spiritual assistance.
2. Dialect Terms a state of anxiety, esp. about the outcome of a vote, negotiation, etc.:
   Strikers have been in the anxious seat for the last three days.
• 1810–20, American.