nail biter
Down-to-the-wire game
A nail biter is something that causes anxious suspense—a close game, a tight election, a tense movie: The championship was a real nail biter.
The term comes from the nervous habit of biting one's fingernails.
Someone who habitually chews their nails is also a nail biter.
Also spelled nail-biter.
State of anxious unease
- tensionStretched or strained state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- worryTroubled mental state
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
unease · jitters · trepidation · edginess · restlessness · agitation · fidgeting · sweaty palms
Suspenseful unresolved ending
- edge-of-your-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- climaxPoint of greatest intensity
high stakes · gripping · riveting · tense · dramatic · countdown · finale · photo finish
Keratin digit coverings
- cuticlesSkin at nail base
- chewingCrushing food orally
- gnawingPersistent biting action
- bad habitDetrimental repeated behavior
nervous habit · self-soothing · oral fixation · unconscious · habitual · manicure · fingers · picking
nervousness
State of anxious unease
- tensionStretched or strained state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- worryTroubled mental state
dread · unease · jitters · trepidation · edginess · restlessness · agitation · fidgeting · sweaty palms · butterflies
cliffhanger
Suspenseful unresolved ending
- edge-of-your-seatIntensely suspenseful experience
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
climax · high stakes · gripping · riveting · tense · dramatic · countdown · finale · photo finish · overtime
fingernails
Keratin digit coverings
nervous habit · bad habit · self-soothing · oral fixation · unconscious · habitual · manicure · fingers · picking · grooming
- close winsphoto finish, buzzer beater, squeaker, close call, by a whisker
- Fidgetersfidgeter, squirmer, wiggler, pacer, nervous wreck
- worriersworrier, fretter, overthinker, worrywart, worry wart
- close callsclose call, near miss, narrow escape, close shave, nick of time
- thrillsroller coasters, thrill, adrenaline, skydiving, bungee jump
- pressureair pressure, blood pressure rise, blood pressure drop, barometric pressure, apply pressure