white-knuckle

== English == === Alternative forms === white knuckle === Etymology === Evoking the imagery of tightly clenched hands with reduced bloodflow to the knuckles. === Pronunciation === === Adjective === white-knuckle (not comparable) (idiomatic) Causing fear, excitement, apprehension, suspense, or nervousness. 2010 July 16, Colleen Long and Harry R. Weber, "BP capped well holding nearly a day into new fix", Associated Press wire: BP said its capped-off well appeared to be holding steady Friday morning, almost midway into a white-knuckle waiting period in which engineers watched the pressure gauges for signs of a leak. ==== Derived terms ==== white-knuckle ride ==== Translations ==== === Verb === white-knuckle (third-person singular simple present white-knuckles, present participle white-knuckling, simple past and past participle white-knuckled) (transitive) To endure despite feeling terror, fear, apprehension, anxiety, discomfort, or torment. (transitive) To grip tightly in fear, apprehension, suspense, or nervousness. ==== Translations ====