cortando clavos
Being extremely nervous or on edge about a situation that could go wrong, especially when you have not fixed the problem yet. A more vulgar and forceful version adds con el ojete (with the asshole), referring to clenching one's buttocks so tightly out of fear that they could snap a metal nail.
Yeah, my car brakes are acting up. I have to take it to the mechanic because it is not right to be driving around cortando clavos con el ojete.
Automatically translated from Spanish
Argentina