ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
1.
a. : habitual biting at the fingernails usually being symptomatic of emotional tensions and frustrations
b. : an act or instance of this behavior
2. : a hopelessly or helplessly frustrated condition or activity
their critical work has become largely a kind of ethical nail-biting — S.E.Hyman