Nail-biter

A “nail-biter” is a situation whose outcome is particularly close or uncertain and induces nerves or anxiety.

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A “nail-biter” is a situation whose outcome is particularly close or uncertain and induces nerves or anxiety. This comes from the idea that when people are nervous, they sometimes will bite their fingernails. In the lesson, what was supposed to be an early and decisive win for Biden turned into a “nail-biter,” or a close election that made people nervous. A close sports game that comes down to the final minutes, or an intense thriller movie can both be called “nail-biters.”

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