nail-biting

[neyl-bahy-ting]

noun

1. the act or practice of biting one's fingernails, especially as the result of anxiety or nervousness.

2. Informal.,  nervousness.

   The announcement that the trade agreement had been signed ended a week of nail-biting on Wall Street.

adjective

1. Informal.,  causing nervousness.

   The nail-biting part of the canoe trip was through the stretches of white water.

nail-biting

noun

1. the act or habit of biting one's fingernails

2. 1. anxiety or tension

   2. ( as modifier )

      nail-biting suspense

Other Word Forms

• nail-biter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nail-biting¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

A nail-biting affair decided by one team cashing in a rare scoring chance, and the other failing to do the same.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The fan base and its loyalty multiplied this season when “Summer” pivoted to weekly episode drops, creating a nail-biting frenzy over Belly’s entanglements and how her story will end.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Eurovision will take place next in May 2026 in Vienna after Austrian singer JJ won this year following a nail-biting finish that saw him topple Israel from pole position at the very last minute.

Read more on BBC

Couch, a former teacher who sits on Nuthall Parish Council, said it was a "nail-biting" result after a recount which confirmed the win.

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Tim McCarthy, 64, fulfilled an ambition to compete in the ITV programme and went on to win in a nail-biting episode which was broadcast earlier, a month after his death from a long illness.

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Related Words

• angst 
• apprehension 
• concern 
• disquiet 
• doubt 
• dread 
• jitters www.thesaurus.com
• misery 
• misgiving 
• mistrust 
• nervousness 
• panic 
• restlessness 
• suffering 
• suspense 
• trouble 
• uncertainty 
• unease 
• uneasiness www.thesaurus.com