what does "nail-biting" mean?

[Ann Nguyen]

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering the meaning of "nail-biting", can you explain it for me?

thank you in advance.

[Nessie]

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
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Alan]

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 Present Simple

[Ann Nguyen]

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.

[Nessie]

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
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Ann Nguyen]

thank Nessie, however I have no query relating to it, because I think that its usages as a adjective.
best,
Ann^^

[Alan]

Hi Nessie,

I'm still confused about your quote:

[Nessie]

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...
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Nessie]

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 :)
_________________
:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Ada Burrington]

I would like to share the following Information about nail biting: I had the problem of nail biting. I tried in many ways to avoid that, but it was utter waste. That time i came to know about Thoughts Become Reality. They gave me Hypnotherapy treatment, and now i got rid of that problem. Thanks to them.
http://www.thoughtsbecomereality.co.uk

[Adolf_Carley]

Its a great forum. Nice talk about Nail Biting. I was having the bad habit of nail biting. Then finally I found a remedy and now happy to say that /I have excellent nails.