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Thu May 01, 2008 9:32 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Nail-biting: making you feel very excited or anxious because you do not know what is going to happen: => a nail-biting finish => It's been a nail-biting couple of weeks waiting for my results.
However, what really confuses me is the different usage notes for this word in the OALD and the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English:
OALD: nail-biting adjective [usually before noun] making you feel very excited or anxious because you do not know what is going to happen: a nail-biting finish ◆ It's been a nail-biting couple of weeks waiting for my results.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: nail-biting 'nail-.biting adj [only before noun] extremely exciting because you do not know what is going to happen next The match went all the way to a nail-biting finish. some nail-biting moments near the end of the movie
=> So, should the word be used only before nouns or just usually before noun? Thanks a lot Nessie |
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nessie I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 950
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Thu May 01, 2008 9:38 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Hi Nessie,
Aren't your examples the same? Use as with any adjective.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story New year resolutions |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 7191 Location: UK
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Thu May 01, 2008 12:58 pm what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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thank Nessie, thank Alan.
I also find another example,
Birmingham lost 5-1 in the match again Aston Villa. Birmingham could still stay in the Premiership next season, but things are not looking good. The nail-biting continues. |
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ann nguyen I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 44 Location: Vietnam
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Fri May 02, 2008 17:52 pm what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Thanks for your example, Ann, and have you got any other query relating to it? 
Hi Alan, I just want to make it clear whether the adjective is used ONLY before noun or USUALLY before noun. Many thanks Nessie |
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nessie I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 950
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Sat May 03, 2008 2:29 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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thank Nessie, however I have no query relating to it, because I think that its usages as a adjective. best, Ann^^ |
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ann nguyen I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 44 Location: Vietnam
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Sat May 03, 2008 8:56 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Hi Nessie,
I'm still confused about your quote:
| Quote: | OALD: nail-biting adjective [usually before noun | ]
(1) I can't see it in my copy of OALD (2) Adjectives invariably go before the noun, don't they?
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story In short |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 7191 Location: UK
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Sat May 03, 2008 15:15 pm what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Thanks a lot, Alan
QUOTE: (1) I can't see it in my copy of OALD => I don't know, Alan, this OALD of mine is an electronic version (I downloaded it on lingoes.net), so I don't know if it is the exact version of the OALD 
QUOTE: (2) Adjectives invariably go before the noun, don't they? => what about "alike"? I think some adjectives can't go before noun... |
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nessie I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 950
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Tue May 06, 2008 18:09 pm what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Alan, please let me know your idea...
P.S: by the way, is it ok if I write the above sentence this way: "please give me your idea"? Is the use of "give" here natural or nor? Many thanks in advance  |
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nessie I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 950
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| dimming vs fading | Except, but, excluding, barring |