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#2 (permalink) Thu May 01, 2008 8:32 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 _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#3 (permalink) Thu May 01, 2008 8:38 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 Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13890 Location: UK
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#4 (permalink) Thu May 01, 2008 11:58 am 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 You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 65 Location: Vietnam
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#5 (permalink) Fri May 02, 2008 16:52 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 _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#6 (permalink) Sat May 03, 2008 1:29 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 You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 65 Location: Vietnam
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#7 (permalink) Sat May 03, 2008 7:56 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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Hi Nessie,
I'm still confused about your quote:
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OALD: nail-biting adjective [usually before noun |
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(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 Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13890 Location: UK
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#8 (permalink) Sat May 03, 2008 14:15 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... _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#9 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 17:09 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 :) _________________ :(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1102
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#10 (permalink) Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:34 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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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 |
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Ada Burrington New Member
Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 1
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#11 (permalink) Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:35 am what does "nail-biting" mean? |
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| 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. |
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Adolf_Carley New Member
Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 1
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| past / past perfect / present perfect | irrational |