Preposition: of

• extinction: Today in the wild they are on the brink of extinction.

• precipice: The capitalist system seems to be on the brink of a precipice.

• abyss: The Chancer has led his nation to the brink of an abyss.

• collapse: The NHS seems to be on the brink of collapse.

• starvation: They were brought to the brink of complete starvation.

• self-destruction: The country was on the brink of self-destruction in the late 1980s.

Converse of object

• reach: The de Gaulle regime which had reached the brink had its continuance ensured.

• approach: She moved toward it, but, as she approached the brink, lo!

Adjective modifier

• very: At the very brink of the chasm his horse stood still.

• nuclear: Such a crisis holds the potential to bring the world to the nuclear brink.

• brown: Morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs.

• financial: Wednesday 5th April 2006 Your expensive tastes could push you over the financial brink.

Modifies a noun

• thing: There will be a one of those black brink type things -- make sure you have Wario.