nail-biter
or nail bit·er
[neyl-bahy-ter]
- a person who bites his or her nails, especially habitually.
- a situation marked by anxiety or tension.
Origin of nail-biter
1970–75
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for nail-biter
Contemporary Examples
The passage of health-care reform will suddenly shift from sure-thing to nail-biter.
Historical Examples
He'd been a nail-biter when he was a kid, but he'd kicked the habit when we got to high school.
Little BrotherCory Doctorow