A/V + 을 지경이다 is an emphatic expression meaning ‘on the verge of’ or ’to the point of'. It comes from the hanja word for boundary (地境). It is used to highlight the extremity of a situation. It is most often used negatively, with verbs of hardship:
샘이 나서 죽을 지경이었어요.
I was green with (dying of) envy.
객차가 너무 더워서 기절할 지경이었어요.
The train carriage was so hot that I almost fainted.
아침 식사를 먹는 둥 마는 둥 했더니 점심에 배고파 죽을 지경이었어요.
At lunchtime I was starving (dying of hunger) because I only had a few mouthfuls of breakfast.
목이 말라 죽을 지경이에요.
I'm dying of thirst.
이 곡을 얼마나 들었는지 말할 수 없을 지경이에요.
I can't tell you how many times I listened to this song.
일이 힘들어 포기할 지경이에요.
This is so hard I'm about ready to give up.
돈이 없어서 라면만 먹어야 할 지경이에요.
I’m going to have eat just ramen, I’m so broke.
동생이 귀찮아 비명이 날 지경이에요!
My little brother is such a nuisance I could almost scream!
좀 전에 달리기를 했더니 다리가 너무 아파서 쓰러질 지경이에요.
My legs hurt so much after running that I'm about to faint.
미세 먼지 때문에 숨이 막힐 지경이었어요.
I can barely breathe because of the fine dust.
사우디의 여름은 더워서 몸이 녹을 지경이에요.
Summer in Saudi is so hot that my body is about to melt.
코로나바이러스 걱정에 병이 날 지경이에요.
I’m worried sick about the coronavirus.
숙제가 어려워서 미칠 지경이에요.
The homework is so difficult that I’m about to go crazy.
그 사람은 큰 목소리로 통과해서 화가 날 지경이에요.
That guy talking loudly on his phone is making me mad.
밤새 고양이가 야옹야옹 울어 대서 귀찮을 지경이에요!
The sound of caterwauling all night is so annoying!