"on the verge of" vs "to be about to"

by Majid
(Tehran,Iran)

Would you please tell me some sentences in which one of the following expressions is preferred over the other.
(On the verge of...to be about to).

Take the two following sentences:

-I am on the verge of eating my lunch.
-I'm about to have my lunch.
I think the second is preferred among natives, isn't it. Thanks a lot.

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Hi Majid, You are correct. The second one is more common and useful for everyday things.

I am about to call my mother.
I am about to eat dinner.
I am about to turn off my computer.
I am about to go to sleep.

“To be on the verge of something”, is more dramatic but with a similar meaning.

I am on the verge of crying.
I am on the verge of peeing myself.
I am on the verge of having a mental breakdown.
I am on the verge of leaving my husband.

Do you see the difference now?

Cheers,
Diana