---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Waiting for her answer was like pulling…"
description: "\"“Waiting for her answer was like pulling out my fingernails one by one.”\" — Jamie McGuire"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png"
---

#  Waiting for her answer was like pulling out my fingernails…

![“Waiting for her answer was like pulling out my fingernails one by one.” quote by Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png)

> ““Waiting for her answer was like pulling out my fingernails one by one.””

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Waiting for her reply feels excruciatingly painful, like a slow, deliberate self‑harm.

**In simple terms:** The wait feels agonizing.

Key Takeaway

Practice patience and self‑care.

Themes

patience anxiety romantic longing

Mood

anxious hopeful

Type

reflective emotional

When to use this quote

- long‑distance relationships
- unrequited love
- online dating
- first dates

Key Concepts

psychological distress attachment communication

Questions to Reflect On

- What does this metaphor reveal about your fear of rejection?
- How can you reframe waiting as self‑growth?

A Different Perspective

The metaphor may exaggerate emotional intensity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fingernails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingernails/) [Like Pulling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-pulling-490413/) [Pulling Fingernails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulling-fingernails-2344590/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting Answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-answer-1969297/)

## Related quotes

> [“Come on... come on... I am waiting for answer... ... Silence doesn't make it... better ... YOU SAID THAT WE ARE FRIENDS... AND i…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/come-on-come-on-i-am-waiting-for-answer-silence-doesn-t-make-it/)

[Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/)

> [Selling is nothing more than asking questions and waiting for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/selling-is-nothing-more-than-asking-questions-and-waiting-for-an/)

[Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/)

> [Maybe I'll be like that man in "The Hanging Tree'. Still waiting for an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/maybe-i-ll-be-like-that-man-in-the-hanging-tree-still-waiting-for-an/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“C-Raptin?” She kept still while waiting for an answer.  Silence dragged on for several moments. “Yes, Karin.” So he is watching me.  “Why did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamila-abraham/c-raptin-she-kept-still-while-waiting-for-an-answer-silence-dragged/)

[Yamila Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamila-abraham/)

> [Well one relationship is over not to happy but I guess I have to move on I like some who ive know for three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolas-sixx-is-single-now/well-one-relationship-is-over-not-to-happy-but-i-guess-i-have-to-move/)

[Nikolas Sixx Is Single Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolas-sixx-is-single-now/)

> [Waiting for your answer is one of the most painful things I have ever been through. At least let me know whether or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/waiting-for-your-answer-is-one-of-the-most-painful-things-i-have-ever/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I don't know, I don't enjoy the business bit of it at all. Anything that's not the acting. It's all sort of like pulling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-enjoy-the-business-bit-of-it-at-all-anything/)

[Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/)

> [I'm kind of a private person, and sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get me to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/i-m-kind-of-a-private-person-and-sometimes-it-s-like-pulling-teeth-to/)

[Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/)

> [When you come in the club, people are trying to get your attention, so they pull your hand. It's like, why are you pulling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustard/when-you-come-in-the-club-people-are-trying-to-get-your-attention-so/)

[Mustard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustard/)

> [“...not forgiving someone is like not pulling a thorn out of your foot just because you weren't the one that put it there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/not-forgiving-someone-is-like-not-pulling-a-thorn-out-of-your-foot/)

[Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/)

> [“Magic is like pulling the pin on a grenade and then sutffing it down your pants to see what happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-van-eekhout/magic-is-like-pulling-the-pin-on-a-grenade-and-then-sutffing-it-down/)

[Greg Van Eekhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-van-eekhout/)

> [Writing is like pulling your hair out. You have nothing, and you can't think of anything, but you have to think of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-day/writing-is-like-pulling-your-hair-out-you-have-nothing-and-you-can-t/)

[Charlie Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-day/)

> [To me, it's like the difference between a pen and a paintbrush. Music draws from almost the identical place as art does, which really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/to-me-it-s-like-the-difference-between-a-pen-and-a-paintbrush-music/)

[Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/)

> [Life is like pulling a rubber band, pulling you back and forth. Pulling you to one thing you want and to one thing you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/movie/life-is-like-pulling-a-rubber-band-pulling-you-back-and-forth-pulling/)

[Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/movie/)

> [“Writing is like pulling teeth out of your penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/writing-is-like-pulling-teeth-out-of-your-penis/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

## More by Jamie McGuire

> [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“It doesn’t matter what or why it is. When it’s good, …it’s beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/it-doesn-t-matter-what-or-why-it-is-when-it-s-good-it-s-beautiful/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“With each step she took that brought her closer to where I stood, my heart pounded harder against my chest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/with-each-step-she-took-that-brought-her-closer-to-where-i-stood-my/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“Travis clenched his eyes shut, and a sinking feeling settled over me. It was agonizing seeing him suffer, knowing that not only was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/travis-clenched-his-eyes-shut-and-a-sinking-feeling-settled-over-me/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“I frowned. “I need her more than Jesus does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-frowned-i-need-her-more-than-jesus-does/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“You just asked me to marry you," he said, still waiting for me to admit some kind of trickery. "I know." "That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-just-asked-me-to-marry-you-he-said-still-waiting-for-me-to-admit/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“There's a girl, Dad." He smiled a bit. "A girl." "She kinda hates me, and I kinda..." "Love her?" "I don't know. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/there-s-a-girl-dad-he-smiled-a-bit-a-girl-she-kinda-hates-me-and-i/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“No, it’s a car. The love of my life will be a woman with my last name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/no-it-s-a-car-the-love-of-my-life-will-be-a-woman-with-my-last-name/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“I shut my eyes tight, trying to savor the moment. I knew I would wish for that moment back every day of my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-shut-my-eyes-tight-trying-to-savor-the-moment-i-knew-i-would-wish/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“I clinked my bottle against his. “To being the only girl a guy with no standards doesn’t want to sleep with.” I said, taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-clinked-my-bottle-against-his-to-being-the-only-girl-a-guy-with-no/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“Can you believe how ridiculous they are? The girls here are shameless," America said. Finch shook his head in awe. "It's Travis. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/can-you-believe-how-ridiculous-they-are-the-girls-here-are-shameless/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“He exhaled with a deep, contented sigh, speaking in a hushed voice. “I love you, Abby. I’m going to make you happy, I swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/he-exhaled-with-a-deep-contented-sigh-speaking-in-a-hushed-voice-i/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

> [“My room was made up of strange, random things, but then, so was I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/my-room-was-made-up-of-strange-random-things-but-then-so-was-i/)

[Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

[Explore all 854 Jamie McGuire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/)

## More Fingernails quotes

> [“Now, from the crown of my head to the curve of my toe-nails, there was an unguent for every part of me - oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/now-from-the-crown-of-my-head-to-the-curve-of-my-toe-nails-there-was/)

[Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/)

> [“She grips my elbow tighter, somehow finding the thinnest skin to dig her fingernails into. I want to pry her fingers from my arm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/she-grips-my-elbow-tighter-somehow-finding-the-thinnest-skin-to-dig/)

[Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/)

> [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [Action films are emotionally and physically draining, and you're dirty and sweaty. In a romantic comedy, you have to have your fingernails perfect, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/action-films-are-emotionally-and-physically-draining-and-you-re-dirty/)

[Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/)

> [With fingernails that shine like justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cake/with-fingernails-that-shine-like-justice/)

[Cake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cake/)

> [When I was in college, I used to write little ditties and short stories and poetry for my friends. Writing a book is another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/when-i-was-in-college-i-used-to-write-little-ditties-and-short/)

[Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/)

> [“in a slapfight with Jesus my face bleeds because no one cut their fingernails back then”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-bailey/in-a-slapfight-with-jesus-my-face-bleeds-because-no-one-cut-their/)

[Daniel Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-bailey/)

> [“The artist, like the God of creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/the-artist-like-the-god-of-creation-remains-within-or-behind-or/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [Adam has always had . . . heroic tendencies.” I touched Adam’s arm. “He’s my hero.” There was another pause. . . “That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/adam-has-always-had-heroic-tendencies-i-touched-adam-s-arm-he-s-my/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

> [“The second man I meet is Andrew, and he has dirty fingernails so I can't notice if he is nice or not. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/the-second-man-i-meet-is-andrew-and-he-has-dirty-fingernails-so-i-can/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-three-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but/)

[Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/)

> [The temptation is to stay inside; to subside into the kind of recluse whom neighborhood children regard with derision and little awe; to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-temptation-is-to-stay-inside-to-subside-into-the-kind-of-recluse/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Well, does he still have his fingernails? Making inquiries while negotiating the release of a US Army pilot from North Korea, in Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/well-does-he-still-have-his-fingernails-making-inquiries-while/)

[Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/)

> [“No girl has ever offered to feed my enemies' fingernails to her cat before." "Lisa's cat. And don't flatter yourself. At the moment, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-white/no-girl-has-ever-offered-to-feed-my-enemies-fingernails-to-her-cat/)

[Cecily White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-white/)

> [“No, I'm the human here. I'm the life at stake. I'm the one with fingernails, who feels pain. Me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicen-grey/no-i-m-the-human-here-i-m-the-life-at-stake-i-m-the-one-with/)

[Alicen Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicen-grey/)

[Browse all 156 Fingernails quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingernails/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Waiting for her answer was like pulling out my fingernails one by one.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jamie McGuire"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling-out-my-fingernails-one-by-one/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fingernails"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling-out-my-fingernails-one-by-one/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/jamie-mcguire-215_fingernails_waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling_1840420.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Waiting for her answer was like pulling out my fingernails one by one.” — Jamie McGuire",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jamie McGuire",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Waiting for her answer was like...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling-out-my-fingernails-one-by-one/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/waiting-for-her-answer-was-like-pulling-out-my-fingernails-one-by-one/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
