The Clue
Nail-biting (5 letter answer)
The Answer
TENSE
Tags
Notes
The answer TENSE is seen frequently, appearing about once every 80 puzzles.
Related Clues
On edge
Jittery
Nervous
Present, for one
Rigid
Strained
Stressed
Taut
Uptight
All nerves
Brace, in a way
Ex-lax?
Keyed up
Lacking slack
Needing kneading?
Past, e.g.
Past or future
Past or present
Perfect, e.g.
Present, e.g.
Present or past
Rigid; taut
Up-tight
Wound up
Future perfect, e.g.
Like a new driver
In need of a massage, maybe
Tied up in knots
It may be perfect
Like sudden-death playoffs
Present, for example, in English class
Definition
TENSE as a noun:
1. a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
TENSE as a verb:
1. (strain, tense) = become stretched or tense or taught; "the bodybuilder's neck muscles tensed;" "the rope strained when the weight was attached"
2. increase the tension on; "alternately relax and tense your calf muscle"; "tense the rope manually before tensing the spring"
3. (tense, tense up) = become tense, nervous, or uneasy; "He tensed up when he saw his opponent enter the room"
4. (tense, strain, tense up) = cause to be tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious; "he got a phone call from his lawyer that tensed him up"
TENSE as an adjective:
1. in or of a state of physical or nervous tension
2. pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in `beat')
3. taut or rigid; stretched tight; "tense piano strings"