nail

1 noun (C)

1 a thin pointed piece of metal which you force into a piece of wood with a hammer to fasten the wood to something else

2 the hard smooth layer on the ends of your fingers and toes: Damn! I've just broken a nail.

3 a nail in sb's/sth's coffin something bad which will help to destroy someone's success or hopes: This latest scandal was one more nail in the coffin of Manley's ambitions.

4 on the nail

a) BrE if you pay money on the nail, you pay it immediately

b) AmE completely correct in what you say or when you guess something: Ed was right on the nail when he guessed Sue's age.

—see also: as hard as nails hard 1 (27), hit the nail on the head hit 1 (24) 2 verb (T)

1 (always + adv/prep) to fasten something to something else with a nail or nails: nail sth to/together/down etc: A sign saying `No Fishing' had been nailed to the tree. | The lid was nailed down.

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 bastard who killed our daughter. | nail sb for: The state police finally nailed him for fraud.

3 nail sb to the wall/cross especially AmE to punish someone severely

4 nail your colours to the mast BrE to say clearly and publicly which ideas or which people you support

5 nail a lie/rumours informal to prove that what someone has said is a lie

nail sb/sth down phrasal verb (T) informal

1 to force someone to say clearly what they want or what they intend to do: nail sb down to sth: Before they repair the car, nail them down to a price.

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