bite your nails/fingernails

bite (one's) nails

1. Literally, to chew on one's fingernails and shorten them. I wish I didn't bite my nails, but it's been such a hard habit to try to break. My sister gets regular manicures to keep from biting her nails.
2. To nervously await something. I've been biting my nails ever since I submitted my application for my first-choice college.
See also: bite, nail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bite your ˈnails/ˈfingernails

feel very excited, nervous, or afraid ▶ ˈnail-biting adj. very exciting or tense: What an exciting movie that was — real nail-biting stuff!
See also: bite, fingernail, nail
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • bite (one's) nails
  • bite nails
  • bite one's nails
  • fingernail
  • hang on by (one's) fingernails
  • cling on by (one's) fingernails
  • break (one's) habit
  • break a habit
  • break a/the habit
  • be (as) hard as nails