26984 words

nails

14 definitions • 20 examples
1
a small, thin piece of metal with one pointed end and one flat end that you hit into something with a hammer, especially in order to fasten or join it to something else:

Examples:

a three-inch nail
I stepped on a nail sticking out of the floorboards.
hammer a nail Hammer a nail into the wall and we'll hang the mirror from it.
2
a thin, hard area that covers the upper side of the end of each finger and each toe:

Examples:

bite your nails Stop biting your nails!
3
to fasten something with nails:

Examples:

nail something to something She had nailed a small shelf to the door.
be nailed up A notice had been nailed up on the wall.
be nailed down The lid of the box had been nailed down.
4
to catch someone, especially when they are doing something wrong, or to make it clear that they are guilty:

Examples:

The police had been trying to nail those guys for months.
5
to do something successfully:

Examples:

She nailed her audition and got the lead part in the musical.
You totally nailed it!
6
to hit someone or something with force:

Examples:

I got nailed in the head by someone's elbow.
A piece of wood flew off and nailed him in the eye.
7
a thin piece of metal having a pointed end that is forced into wood or another substance by hitting the other end with a hammer, and is used esp. to join two pieces or to hold something in place
8
the hard, smooth part at the upper end of each finger and toe
9
to attach or fasten with a nail or nails:

Examples:

[ M ] Workmen were nailing down the carpet.
10
If you nail something shut, you put nails in it to fasten it so that it cannot easily be opened:

Examples:

He nailed the box shut.
11
infml To nail someone is to catch someone in a dishonest or illegal act:

Examples:

We finally nailed the guys dumping garbage in the park.
12
to prove that someone is guilty of doing something:
13
to do something successfully:

Examples:

He nailed the interview and was offered the job right there.
14
at exactly the right time:

Examples:

Some credit cards are offering loyalty bonuses to customers who pay on the nail .

Navigation