nail-biter

Down-to-the-wire game

A nail-biter is a suspenseful situation whose outcome remains uncertain until the very end—the kind that makes you nervously chew your fingernails: The election was a nail-biter that wasn't decided until the last precinct reported.

Sporting events, close votes, and thriller films are commonly described as nail-biters.

suspense

tension

Stretched or strained state

anticipationState of awaiting something
anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
uncertaintyState of being unsure

edge-of-your-seat · nerve-wracking · white-knuckled · heart-pounding · breathless · gripping · stomach-churning · on-edge · pins-and-needles · cliffhanger

competition

overtime

Work beyond scheduled hours

tiebreakerContest deciding drawn competitors
buzzer-beaterScore at the horn
extra-inningsTiebreaking baseball periods

deadlock · showdown · upset · underdog · comeback · last-minute · deuce · seesaw

Categories

worriersworrier, fretter, overthinker, worrywart, worry wart
cliffhangersseason finale, plot twist, to be continued, twist ending, suspense
close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
match resultswin, defeat, draw, tie, victory
sports dramacomeback story, underdog story, rivalry, upset, buzzer beater
Sports Resultswin, championship, first place, second place, victory

Opposites

competitiveness/closeness of contest

nail-biterblowout

Sudden tire failure

landslide · rout · walkover · runaway · cakewalk

excitement/engagement level

nail-biteryawner

Boring thing or person

snoozer · snoozefest · bore · dud · sleeper

predictability of outcome

nail-biterforegone conclusion

Result assumed beforehand

sure thing · no-brainer · slam dunk · done deal · certainty

Family

bite, nail, biting, bitten, nails, bites, nailed, nailing, nail-biting

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G