nail-biter

/ˈneɪl baɪtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈneɪl baɪtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnāl-ˌbī-tər/ (ame, mw)

nail-biter — noun

1. a game, film, election, or other event that makes people feel nervous and excite

1.名詞B2
釋義

a game, film, election, or other event that makes people feel nervous and excited because the result stays unclear until the very end

例句

The basketball final became a nail-biter when both teams were tied with two minutes left.

become a nail-biter — tense finish develops near the end

Dewi said the court drama was a nail-biter right up to the final verdict.

be a nail-biter — judging a film or show by its suspense

同義詞
  • thriller

    usually names a kind of book or film; nail-biter also works for real events like matches or elections

  • cliffhanger

    often focuses on a story ending at a tense stopping point, not any close contest

  • close contest

    neutral description of an even competition; it does not stress the nervous suspense

  • squeaker

    mainly North American and usually about a very narrow win in sport or politics

文法句型

be a nail-biter

become / turn into a nail-biter

a real nail-biter

用法筆記

Often used after be, become, or turn into when speakers judge a game, film, vote count, or similar event by how tense the ending feels. Common in sports reporting and entertainment reviews, but it also fits real-life situations where the result stays uncertain until the last moments.

常見錯誤

❌The match was very nail-biter.
✅The match was a real nail-biter.
💡use it as a countable noun, not as an adjective after 'be'.