nail
nail /n'eɪl/ (nails nailing nailed)
1 [N-COUNT]
A nail is a thin piece of metal with one pointed end and one flat end. You hit the flat end with a hammer in order to push the nail into something such as a wall.
A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand...
2 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n with adj
If you nail something somewhere, you fix it there using one or more nails.
Frank put the first plank down and nailed it in place...
They nail shut the front door...
3 [N-COUNT] usu poss N in pl
Your nails are the thin hard parts that grow at the ends of your fingers and toes.
Keep your nails short and your hands clean.
4 [VERB] V n
To nail someone means to catch them and prove that they have been breaking the law. (INFORMAL)
The prosecution still managed to nail him for robberies at the homes of leading industrialists.
5 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that someone is as hard as nails, you mean that they are extremely tough and aggressive, either physically or in their attitude towards other people or other situations.
He's a shrewd businessman and hard as nails...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone has hit the nail on the head, you think they are exactly right about something.
`I think it would civilize people a bit more if they had decent conditions.'--`I think you've hit the nail on the head.'
7
a nail in the coffin: see coffin
to fight tooth and nail: see toothnail bomb (nail bombs)
[N-COUNT]
A nail bomb is a bomb which contains nails that are intended to cause a lot of damage and injury when the bomb goes off.nail brush (nail brushes)
also nailbrush
[N-COUNT]
A nail brush is a small brush that you use to clean your nails when washing your hands.nail down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you nail down something unknown or uncertain, you find out exactly what it is.
It would be useful if you could nail down the source of this tension.
= pin down
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you nail down an agreement, you manage to reach a firm agreement with a definite result.
The Secretary of State and his Russian counterpart met to try to nail down the elusive accord.nail file (nail files)
also nailfile
[N-COUNT]
A nail file is a small strip of rough metal or card that you rub across the ends of your nails to shorten them or shape them.nail pol|ish (nail polishes /n'eɪl pɒlɪʃ/)
[N-MASS]
Nail polish is a thick liquid that women paint on their nails.
= nail varnishnail scis|sors
also nail-scissors
[N-PLURAL] also a pair of N
Nail scissors are small scissors that you use for cutting your nails.
Mishka got some nail scissors and started carefully trimming his fingernails.nail var|nish (nail varnishes)
[N-MASS]
Nail varnish is the same as nail polish. (BRIT; in AM, use nail polish)
1 [N-COUNT]
A nail is a thin piece of metal with one pointed end and one flat end. You hit the flat end with a hammer in order to push the nail into something such as a wall.
A mirror hung on a nail above the washstand...
2 [VERB] V n prep/adv, V n with adj
If you nail something somewhere, you fix it there using one or more nails.
Frank put the first plank down and nailed it in place...
They nail shut the front door...
3 [N-COUNT] usu poss N in pl
Your nails are the thin hard parts that grow at the ends of your fingers and toes.
Keep your nails short and your hands clean.
4 [VERB] V n
To nail someone means to catch them and prove that they have been breaking the law. (INFORMAL)
The prosecution still managed to nail him for robberies at the homes of leading industrialists.
5 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you say that someone is as hard as nails, you mean that they are extremely tough and aggressive, either physically or in their attitude towards other people or other situations.
He's a shrewd businessman and hard as nails...
6 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that someone has hit the nail on the head, you think they are exactly right about something.
`I think it would civilize people a bit more if they had decent conditions.'--`I think you've hit the nail on the head.'
7
a nail in the coffin: see coffin
to fight tooth and nail: see toothnail bomb (nail bombs)
[N-COUNT]
A nail bomb is a bomb which contains nails that are intended to cause a lot of damage and injury when the bomb goes off.nail brush (nail brushes)
also nailbrush
[N-COUNT]
A nail brush is a small brush that you use to clean your nails when washing your hands.nail down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you nail down something unknown or uncertain, you find out exactly what it is.
It would be useful if you could nail down the source of this tension.
= pin down
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you nail down an agreement, you manage to reach a firm agreement with a definite result.
The Secretary of State and his Russian counterpart met to try to nail down the elusive accord.nail file (nail files)
also nailfile
[N-COUNT]
A nail file is a small strip of rough metal or card that you rub across the ends of your nails to shorten them or shape them.nail pol|ish (nail polishes /n'eɪl pɒlɪʃ/)
[N-MASS]
Nail polish is a thick liquid that women paint on their nails.
= nail varnishnail scis|sors
also nail-scissors
[N-PLURAL] also a pair of N
Nail scissors are small scissors that you use for cutting your nails.
Mishka got some nail scissors and started carefully trimming his fingernails.nail var|nish (nail varnishes)
[N-MASS]
Nail varnish is the same as nail polish. (BRIT; in AM, use nail polish)