Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective That causes nervous anticipation or suspense

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (of a situation) characterized by or causing suspense

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word nail-biting.

Examples

  • Then there were moments of nail-biting thrills, from Kate's airport escape to Sayid's force-fed swim session.

    ‘Lost’ Season Six Theories Galore From MTV News Staffers » MTV Movies Blog 2010

  • The nail-biting contest between two previous winners and the supercomputer was dubbed by the press as the "ultimate man versus machine showdown".

    To Be Gay In Indian Business 2011

  • Those sensitive topics are not featured in the television series, which features nail-biting battle scenes and the stories of real people affected by terrorism - among them bereaved relatives and a young woman kidnapped and molested by insurgents.

    Pakistan TV dramatizes fight against terrorism Karin Brulliard 2011

  • They line up along a worn river bank in the towns near the launch pad on Cape Canaveral, waiting for days, then nail-biting hours, to see a group of people embark on a completely different kind of journey, this one powered by rockets that do zero to 17,000 mph in 8.5 minutes.

    Alex Pasternack: Humanity's Greatest Spectacle Alex Pasternack 2011

  • Those sensitive topics are not featured in the television series, which features nail-biting battle scenes and the stories of real people affected by terrorism - among them bereaved relatives and a young woman kidnapped and molested by insurgents.

    Pakistan TV dramatizes fight against terrorism Karin Brulliard 2011

  • Ellis swapped sprint victories with Dunn throughout the middle section of the race and beat her rival into second place in the ninth, closing the gap to two points to set up a nail-biting finish.

    Josiah Ng’s gold-medal keirin ride prevents Aussie sweep at Commonwealth Games 2010

  • Cherry says he realistically needs to know by the end of February if he will be ending the current season with another nail-biting cliffhanger or wrapping up his Wisteria Lane shenanigans for good.

    Keck's Exclusives: Desperate Housewives to End In 2013? 2011

  • "Lippman lets each character contribute a piece to the whole, which makes the story richer, and there's some nail-biting suspense."

    No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman: Book summary 2010

  • The ending here was somewhat lacking, focusing more on Fleck's personal descent than resolving the nail-biting action that preceded it.

    REVIEW: Voices From Punktown by Jeffrey Thomas 2010

  • They line up along a worn river bank in the towns near the launch pad on Cape Canaveral, waiting for days, then nail-biting hours, to see a group of people embark on a completely different kind of journey, this one powered by rockets that do zero to 17,000 mph in 8.5 minutes.

    Alex Pasternack: Humanity's Greatest Spectacle Alex Pasternack 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.