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Synonyms for nail down


Grammar : Noun
Spell : neyl
Phonetic Transcription : neɪl



Définition of nail down

Origin :
  • Old English negel "metal pin," nægl "fingernail (handnægl), toenail," from Proto-Germanic *naglaz (cf. Old Norse nagl "fingernail," nagli "metal nail;" Old Saxon and Old High German nagel, Old Frisian neil, Middle Dutch naghel, Dutch nagel, German Nagel "fingernail, small metal spike"), from PIE root *(o)nogh "nail" (cf. Greek onyx "claw, fingernail;" Latin unguis "nail, claw;" Old Church Slavonic noga "foot," noguti "nail, claw;" Lithuanian naga "hoof," nagutis "fingernail;" Old Irish ingen, Old Welsh eguin "nail, claw").
  • The "fingernail" sense seems to be the original one. Nail polish attested from 1891. To bite one's nails as a sign of anxiety is attested from 1570s. Nail-biting is from 1805. Hard as nails is from 1828. To hit the nail on the head "say or do just the right thing" is first recorded 1520s. Phrase on the nail "on the spot, exactly" is from 1590s, of obscure origin; OED says it is not even certain it belongs to this sense of nail.
  • noun establish conclusively
Example sentences :
  • Oh, it caught on a nail down at the boathouse, and a piece was ripped off.
  • Extract from : « The Eight-Oared Victors » by Lester Chadwick
  • Nothing you could nail down, at first, but growing month by month.
  • Extract from : « Martyr » by Alan Edward Nourse
  • The error—if error there was—was subtle and hard to nail down.
  • Extract from : « Comrade Yetta » by Albert Edwards
  • "Nail down every dollar," said Jack, and we all were busy with our nailing.
  • Extract from : « Neighbours » by Robert Stead
  • Surprised at this, he laid the nail down on the ink-slab while he went out to ask whence the letter had come.
  • Extract from : « Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Volumes I and II) » by Songling Pu
  • But Jane had the last board and found it much easier to nail down than the first girl did.
  • Extract from : « The Woodcraft Girls at Camp » by Lillian Elizabeth Roy
  • The laths are easy to nail down and then the paper goes over that, you know.
  • Extract from : « Girl Scouts at Dandelion Camp » by Lillian Elizabeth Roy
  • I recovered just as the people were about to nail down the hatches; perceiving which, I desired them to stop.
  • Extract from : « The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African » by Olaudah Equiano
  • But, if you go bothering, I'll put it in your bed, and it'll do after to nail down your coffin.
  • Extract from : « The Battle Of The Strong, Complete » by Gilbert Parker
  • However, before you nail down the lid and put on the roof, you will need to understand the mechanism.
  • Extract from : « Toy-Making at Home » by Morley Adams

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019