nail
[verb]
Synonyms: fasten, attach, fix, hammer, join, pin, secure, tack

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Nail, Jimmy
(1954–) a British actor who is best known for appearing in the television series Auf Wiedersehen Pet about a group of British men working abroad. He appeared in and wrote another television series called Crocodile Shoes and made a successful pop record with the same title. He is from Newcastle, and is known for having a strong Geordie accent (=way of speaking that is typical in Newcastle).

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. nail¹ S3 /neɪl/ noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: nægl]

1. a thin pointed piece of metal with a flat top, which you hit into a surface with a hammer, for example to join things together or to hang something on:
The key was hanging on a nail by the door.
hammer/bang/hit a nail into something
She hammered a nail into the wall.

2. your nails are the hard smooth layers on the ends of your fingers and toes:
I’ve broken my nail.
Stop biting your nails!
She sat painting her nails (=putting a coloured substance on them).
He still had dirt under his nails. ⇒ fingernail, toenail

3. nail in sb’s/sth’s coffin one of several bad things which help to destroy someone’s success or hopes:
Observers fear that this strike will be another nail in the coffin of the industry.
the final nail in his coffin

4. as hard/tough as nails very tough and not easily frightened, or not caring about the effects of your actions on other people

5. on the nail
a) British English if you pay money on the nail, you pay it immediately
b) especially American English completely correct:
They got it absolutely on the nail.
⇒ hit the nail on the head at hit¹(26)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. nail² verb [transitive]

1. [always + adverb/preposition] to fasten something to something else with nails
nail something to something
A sign saying ‘No Fishing’ had been nailed to the tree.
nail something down
The lid was firmly nailed down.
nail something up (=permanently close a window or door by fixing something across it using nails)
The windows had been nailed up.

2. informal to catch someone and prove that they are guilty of a crime or something bad:
It took us 10 years to nail the guy who killed our daughter.
nail somebody for something
The state police finally nailed him for fraud.

3. informal if you nail something, you succeed in getting it, after a lot of time or effort:
She finally nailed her dream job.

4. nail a lie/myth British English informal to prove that what someone has said is completely untrue

5. nail your colours to the mast British English to say clearly and publicly which ideas or which people you support

6. nail somebody to the wall/cross especially American English to punish someone severely
nail somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb informal

1. to reach a final and definite agreement or decision about something:
Two days isn’t enough time to nail down the details of an agreement.

2. nail somebody down to force someone to say clearly what they want or what they intend to do
nail somebody down to
Before they repair the car, nail them down to a price.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

nail
noun
I. on the fingers/toes
ADJ. long | short | sharp | healthy, strong | brittle | broken | manicured, well-kept | painted, polished (See also fingernail and toenail.)
VERB + NAIL bite, chew | do, manicure Do your nails after your bath as they will be softer.
scrub | clip, cut, trim | file | paint, polish, varnish | dig He screamed as she dug her nails into his shoulders.
NAIL + VERB break, split | bite/dig into sth
NAIL + NOUN brush | clippers, scissors | file | polish, varnish
PREP. under your ~ There was dirt under his nails.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

nail
II. piece of metal
ADJ. long | small | six-inch, etc. | loose | protruding | bent | rusty | brass, iron, etc. | masonry, upholstery, wood
VERB + NAIL drive (in), hammer (in), knock (in) | pull out, remove
NAIL + NOUN head | hole | bomb

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

nail

long
Her long nails were painted a pearly pink.
short
Her nails were short and uneven.
dirty
How did you get such dirty nails?
clean
His nails were neat and clean.
finger nail (also fingernail)
She had small hands with polished finger nails.
toe nail (also toenail)
His toenails were long and dirty.
cut your nails
You should cut your nails more often!
trim your nails (=cut a small amount off)
His nails were neatly trimmed.
file your nails
A girl was filing her nails on the bus.
bite your nails
Eddie bit his nails nervously.
paint/polish/varnish your nails (=to put coloured liquid on your nails)
Don't paint short nails in dark colours.
manicure your nails (=to make your nails look attractive by cutting them and making the skin around them neat)
She had manicured nails and expensive clothes.
do your nails informal (=to cut or paint your nails)
She sat at her desk, doing her nails.
break a nail (=to accidentally damage a nail on one of your fingers)
Oh, no, I've broken a nail.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

nail
neɪl
See: hard as nails , hit the nail on the head , tooth and nail

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲