Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
bite-your-nails-to-the-quick
idiom
/baɪt jɔr neɪlz tu ðə kwɪk/
Definition
To bite one’s nails so far down that it reaches the quick, causing discomfort or pain.
Examples
- She was so anxious before the exam that she started to bite her nails to the quick.
- Whenever he gets stressed, he has a tendency to bite his nails to the quick.
- After years of biting my nails to the quick, I finally decided to stop.
Meaning
This expression often refers to a nervous habit where someone frequently bites their nails, sometimes leading to injury or bleeding.
Synonyms
- nail biting
- anxiety-induced nail biting
- fretting
