| 单词 | on the nail |
| 释义 | > as lemmason the nail Phrases(principally in Branch II., exc. senses Phrases 2, Phrases 3a). P1. Proverbs. a. one nail drives out another and variants: an unpleasant or difficult event or circumstance is often dispelled or displaced by another. Also to drive out one nail with (also by) another [compare classical Latin clāvō clāvum eicere, Hellenistic Greek ἥλῳ ἐκκρούειν τὸν ἧλον, ancient Greek ἥλῳ ὁ ἧλος ἐκκρούεται] . ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > exchange > substitution > substitute [phrase] one nail drives out another?c1225 quid pro quo1560 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 296 Alswa as þe an neil [a1250 Titus nail] driueð ut þe oðer. alse þe brune of godes luue driueð þe brune of ful luue ut of þe heorte. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 25 (MED) Þanne þe kyng drof out on nayle wiþ anoþer [L. clavo clavum expellens] and took wreche of a gyle by a gyle. 1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke xii. 113 Leat therefore one nayle driue out another nayle. 1586 G. Pettie & B. Yong tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (rev. ed.) iv. f. 191 One danger is expelled by an other, As one nayle is driuen out by an other. a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. iv. 191 Euen as one heate, another heate expels, Or as one naile, by strength driues out another. View more context for this quotation 1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia 357 They rather sought by one Nail to drive out another, than openly to denounce War against them. 1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxiv. 339 It was necessary, reply'd I, that one Nail should drive out another; for thou'dst been repining still, had not Mr. Murray been turn'd over to thee. 1839 W. H. Ainsworth Jack Sheppard I. i. i. 21 Let me advise you on no account to fly to strong waters for consolation, Joan. One nail drives out another, it's true; but the worst nail you can employ is a coffinnail. 1874 Ld. Lytton Fables in Song II. 57 By the last disease the first was swallow'd, Just as one nail drives out another one. 1900 Athenæum 27 Oct. 547/2 Nail drives out nail. 1996 F. Popcorn & L. Marigold Clicking iii. 399 A phrase she learned from her mother.., specifically in reference to how to handle the ending of a love affair: ‘One nail drives out another’. b. to hit (also †smite) the (right) nail on the head and variants: to get to the heart of the matter, to say or do exactly the right thing. ΚΠ a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 152 Ȝyf I here any mor þes materys rehersyd, I xal so smytyn þe nayl on þe hed..þat it schal schamyn alle hyr mayntenowrys. c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) 51 (MED) But euer he hitteth on þe heed of þe nayle-is ende, That the pure poynt pricketh on þe sothe. a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. A.iiv And yf that he hyt The nayle on the hede It standeth in no stede. 1599 H. Buttes Dyets Dry Dinner sig. E6 His chiefe pride resteth in hitting the nayle on the head with a quainte Epithite. 1625 J. Hart Anat. Urines ii. xi. 122 One may through hap..hit the naile on the head. 1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 75 If in giving their judgments, forsooth, they have not hit the naile on the head. 1700 S. L. tr. C. Schweitzer Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 327 At last they ignorantly hit the nail on the head, saying that the Devil was in him. 1761 A. Murphy Way to keep Him (ed. 4) ii. 32 You have not hit the right nail o' the head. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. v. 46 He hit the right nail on the head: for he let me do what I pleased. 1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist III. xli. 107 You've hit the right nail upon the head, and are as safe here as you could be. 1901 Speaker 20 July 450/1 Academism is all very well, but..it too often muffles the hammer of criticism, which ought to hit the nails of economic theory hard and on the head. 1952 A. Wilson Hemlock & After ii. i. 120 Not..that Ibsen doesn't hit the moral nail on the head every time. 1994 I. McMillan Dad, Donkey's on Fire 110 George smiled..‘You've hit the nail on the head!’ c. to drive the nail (in) (to the head) (also to drive the nail home): to pursue a matter to its conclusion; to clinch an argument; to make a strong impression on the mind. Similarly to clinch a nail, to beat the nail back, and variants. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > completing > complete or conclude action [verb (intransitive)] > push a matter to a conclusion to clinch a nailc1460 to drive the nail (in) (to the head)c1460 to pin the basketa1659 to drive the nail home1690 the mind > attention and judgement > testing > refutation, disproof > confound, confute [phrase] bray1535 to beat the nail back1581 to nail (a fact, information, etc.) to the counter1842 to nail a lie (also charge, etc.)1843 to sew up one's stocking1859 to knock galley-west1875 to knock the bottom out of1875 to shoot down in flames1943 c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 13 (MED) He seide me, ‘nay, sett there a nayle; Speke me no more therof.’] c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn 3464 (MED) When Geffrey had a-spied they were in such þouȝt..Hym list to dryv in bet þe nayll til they wer fully cloyid. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cclxxviijv Let hym haue a respect to him selfe and his chyldren..and dryue not the nayle to the head. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 96 That fellow could not be without a reply to beate backe the nayle againe. 1631 S. Jerome Arraignem. Whole Creature iv. 22 To drive this naile further to the very head: reflexing more fully on the Prodigals huskes. 1690 Def. Dr. Walker 6 But to drive the Nail home, take the Testimonial of Gervase Squire, Esq. 1711 J. Anderson Countrey-man's Let. to Curat 83 Which drives the Nail to the Head. a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. i. 34 To gain any success, we must proceed with discretion.., driving the nail that will go. 1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd I. ii. ii. 100 He was..brisk at a bargain, so the nail was soon driven. 1897 F. Barrett Harding Scandal xiv He must drive the nail right home. 1958 Listener 28 Aug. 319/3 Our local radiophonicists..have too often seized upon noise in the higher octaves to drive home dramatic nails. 2000 Boston Globe (Nexis) 20 Feb. (Books section) l1 The manner in which a courtship is foisted upon him..suggests the societal misogyny that must have made it a bit more tempting for Kikutani to drive those nails home. d. (for the) want (also lack) of a nail: (the opening words of a proverb (see quot. 1618), expressing the idea that) neglect of small, apparently insignificant details can have serious and far-reaching consequences. Cf. for (the) want of at want adj. and n.2 Phrases 1. ΚΠ 1496 J. Molinet Faictz et Dictz (1937) II. xxxi. l. 768 Par ung seul clou perd on ung bon cheval.] 1618 T. Adams Happines of Church 396 The French-men haue a miltary Prouerbe; The losse of a nayle, the losse of an Army. The want of a nayle looseth the shooe, the losse of shooe troubles the horse, the horse indangereth the rider, the rider breaking his ranke molests the company, so farre as to hazard the whole Army. 1758 Edinb. Mag. Apr. 133/1 He adviseth to circumspection and care, even in the smallest matters..adding, ‘For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost’. 1832 Indiana Jrnl. 28 Apr. 1/3 His door hinge comes off for want of a nail, and the door is destroyed for want of a hinge, and his mow is trampled on and gorged for want of a door, and all this loss is occasioned by not timely driving or clenching a single nail. 1873 Magnet (London) 10 Mar. 2/6 A conspiracy which must have taken months of work.., has suddenly collapsed ‘for the lack of a nail’, and the whole labour is lost. 1925 S. O'Casey Juno & Paycock I. in Two Plays 16 You bring your long-tailed shovel, an' I'll bring me navvy... For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, an' for want of a horse the man was lost. 1979 Managem. Notes (U.S. Dept. Agric.) Nov. 31/1 For lack of a nail... Have you heard the story of the million dollar computer that couldn't run because the wrong amphenol connector was installed? 2010 Jrnl. Exper. Psychol. May 191 (heading) For want of a nail: how absences cause events. P2. a. naked (also nice) as my nail: see naked adj. and n.1 Phrases 5, nice adj. and adv. Phrases 3b; tooth and nail: see tooth n. Phrases 4a. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > cause to be idle or inactive [verb (transitive)] > occupy oneself triflingly with > kill (time or a period) to blow (on) one's nails1566 to spin out1608 murder1700 kill1728 to bite one's nails1883 a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1211 Lat us kepe oure stronge-walled townys untyll they have hunger and colde, and blow on their nayles.] 1566 T. Drant tr. Horace Medicinable Morall sig. Eiij All the reaste might blow their nayles. 1593 R. Bancroft Suruay Holy Discipline 194 They maie shutte the dore: but for openinge of it they maie blowe their nailes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) i. i. 107 Their loue is not so great..but we may blow our nails together, and fast it fairely out. View more context for this quotation a1716 R. South 12 Serm. (1717) V. 246 So that the King for any thing, that he has to do in these Matters, may sit and blow his Nails, for use them otherwise, he cannot. 1798 W. Cobbett Porcupine's Wks. (1801) VIII. 11 So that our Envoys..were suffered..to blow their nails from the 27th of September to the 8th of October. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > make humble [verb (transitive)] edmodienc1175 lowc1175 meekc1175 lessa1382 abatec1390 abasea1393 belowc1400 meekenc1400 disadvance?c1425 simplec1450 lowlyc1485 humilea1492 chasten1526 to pare the nails ofa1549 lessen1579 vail1582 to take (something) a hole lower1591 destate1615 humblea1616 thorough-humblea1617 humiliate1656 level1712 unnichea1751 to level up, down1791 unpedestal1821 to take the starch out of1830 a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (?1555) sig. A4 I wyll follow myne owne mynd and myn old trade. Who shal let me, the deuyls nayles vnpared. 1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 229/1 God must needes paire the nailes [Fr. rabbatre les cloux form the nail heads], as well of vs men as women, and vse violence against vs. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. xli. xxxiv. 938 It is nothing so good,..to take downe the Ætolians and pare their nailes, as to looke unto Philip that he wax not too great. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas III. vii. xv. 211 To pare his nails the closer, I had gone into the market, and informed myself of the prices. d. to bite one's nails [compare classical Latin rōdere unguēs, Horace Satires 1. 10. 17, to bite the nails, i.e. to be buried in thought; Middle French ronger ses ungles to bite the nails (1370), ronger les ongles to concentrate (1580).] : to be nervous; to be bored; (also) to think hard, to concentrate. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > worry > worry about [verb (transitive)] obsess1531 to bite one's nails1577 to doubt of1577 worry1959 the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > cause to be idle or inactive [verb (transitive)] > occupy oneself triflingly with > kill (time or a period) to blow (on) one's nails1566 to spin out1608 murder1700 kill1728 to bite one's nails1883 1577 tr. ‘F. de L'Isle’ Legendarie sig. Iviijv This caused the Cardinal and the rest of his brethren to bite their nailes. 1628 R. Hayman tr. J. Owen Certaine Epigrams ii. 14 in Quodlibets 'Tis not strange, if my Epigrams be meane, I doe not bite my nailes, nor beate my braine. 1721 T. D'Urfey Grecian Heroine ii. i, in New Opera's 108 Prosper ye, Sir, you'll give me leave to scratch, Bite my Nails, pore, or so, I cannot solve the Riddle. 1820 R. Anderson Enigma the First in Wks. I. 141 I'm but a word. My meaning quick explain; Come, study; bite your nails, then try again. 1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island iv. xix. 155 A man who has been three years biting his nails on a desert island..can't expect to appear as sane as you or me. 1922 Collier's 4 Mar. 7/2 I don't like to ballyhoo myself..but here's a picture which will make you..bite your nails. 1993 Bookseller Jan. 44 By the end of the week before Christmas, we reps were no longer biting our nails quite so hard. ΘΚΠ the world > people > person > child > [adverb] > from childhood from (also fro, of) a child or childrenc1384 from the tender nail1603 of a child little1656 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 4 Loving them inwardly, and (as the proverbe saith) from their tender nailes [Fr. des les tendres ongles]. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > perfection > [adverb] fullfremedlyOE to envyc1369 to a wish1390 perfectlyc1395 consummately1529 sincerely1583 to the (also a) nail?1611 like a tansy1619 magisterially1625 (up) to the nines (rarely nine)?1719 puffickly1858 quintessentially1866 to the (also a) queen's taste1880 A-OK1961 the world > relative properties > wholeness > completeness > completely [phrase] > completely or perfectly to (or unto) perfectiona1425 to the letter?1495 to point1590 to the (also a) nail?1611 to a shaving1804 jam up1835 to the moment1845 to a (fine) point1861 ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiii. 321 A tall huge man; that to the naile, knew that rude sport of hand. a1834 S. T. Coleridge Notes Horace, Epist. ii. xv Maenius is capital. The swell-feast buffoon to a nail. 1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux II. iv. 25 As long as a seat was in question the battle should of course be fought to the nail. 1891 S. Mostyn Curatica 43 My peroration was never extempore, but always prepared beforehand, and polished to the nail. P3. on the nail. a. Immediately, at once; without the least delay. Usually with reference to the payment of money. [Probably after one or more earlier phrases of parallel construction arising in various languages as variants of parallels cited s.v. to the nail (see Phrases 2f). Compare Anglo-Norman payer sur le vngle to pay immediately and in full (a1350), French sur l'ongle exactly, perfectly (1606), and also Dutch (tot) op den nagel (in Middle Dutch as (tote) op den nagel ), German (now rare or obsolete) (bis) auf den Nagel (in Middle High German as (untz) auf den nagel ) in entirety, to the utmost, to the last detail. Compare also discussion s.v. supernaculum adv. ΘΚΠ the world > time > relative time > immediacy > [adverb] soonc825 ratheeOE rathelyeOE rekeneOE rekenlyOE thereright971 anonOE forth ona1000 coflyc1000 ferlyc1000 radlyOE swiftlyc1000 unyoreOE yareOE at the forme (also first) wordOE nowOE shortlya1050 rightOE here-rightlOE right anonlOE anonc1175 forthrightc1175 forthwithalc1175 skeetc1175 swithc1175 with and withc1175 anon-rightc1225 anon-rights?c1225 belivec1225 lightly?c1225 quickly?c1225 tidelyc1225 fastlyc1275 hastilyc1275 i-radlichec1275 as soon asc1290 aright1297 bedenea1300 in little wevea1300 withoute(n dwella1300 alrightc1300 as fast (as)c1300 at firstc1300 in placec1300 in the placec1300 mididonec1300 outrightc1300 prestc1300 streck13.. titec1300 without delayc1300 that stounds1303 rada1325 readya1325 apacec1325 albedenec1330 as (also also) titec1330 as blivec1330 as line rightc1330 as straight as linec1330 in anec1330 in presentc1330 newlyc1330 suddenlyc1330 titelyc1330 yernec1330 as soon1340 prestly1340 streckly1340 swithly?1370 evenlya1375 redelya1375 redlya1375 rifelya1375 yeplya1375 at one blastc1380 fresha1382 ripelyc1384 presentc1385 presently1385 without arrestc1385 readilyc1390 in the twinkling of a looka1393 derflya1400 forwhya1400 skeetlya1400 straighta1400 swifta1400 maintenantc1400 out of handc1400 wightc1400 at a startc1405 immediately1420 incontinent1425 there and then1428 onenec1429 forwithc1430 downright?a1439 agatec1440 at a tricec1440 right forth1440 withouten wonec1440 whipc1460 forthwith1461 undelayed1470 incessantly1472 at a momentc1475 right nowc1475 synec1475 incontinently1484 promptly1490 in the nonce?a1500 uncontinent1506 on (upon, in) the instant1509 in short1513 at a clap1519 by and by1526 straightway1526 at a twitch1528 at the first chop1528 maintenantly1528 on a tricea1529 with a tricec1530 at once1531 belively1532 straightwaysa1533 short days1533 undelayedly1534 fro hand1535 indelayedly1535 straight forth1536 betimesc1540 livelyc1540 upononc1540 suddenly1544 at one (or a) dash?1550 at (the) first dash?1550 instantly1552 forth of hand1564 upon the nines1568 on the nail1569 at (also in, with) a thoughtc1572 indilately1572 summarily1578 at one (a) chop1581 amain1587 straightwise1588 extempore1593 presto1598 upon the place1600 directly1604 instant1604 just now1606 with a siserary1607 promiscuously1609 at (in) one (an) instant1611 on (also upon) the momenta1616 at (formerly also on or upon) sight1617 hand to fist1634 fastisha1650 nextly1657 to rights1663 straightaway1663 slap1672 at first bolt1676 point-blank1679 in point1680 offhand1686 instanter1688 sonica1688 flush1701 like a thought1720 in a crack1725 momentary1725 bumbye1727 clacka1734 plumba1734 right away1734 momentarily1739 momentaneously1753 in a snap1768 right off1771 straight an end1778 abruptedly1784 in a whistle1784 slap-bang1785 bang?1795 right off the reel1798 in a whiff1800 in a flash1801 like a shot1809 momently1812 in a brace or couple of shakes1816 in a gird1825 (all) in a rush1829 in (also at, on) short (also quick) order1830 straightly1830 toot sweetc1830 in two twos1838 rectly1843 quick-stick1844 short metre1848 right1849 at the drop of a (occasionally the) hat1854 off the hooks1860 quicksticks1860 straight off1873 bang off1886 away1887 in quick sticks (also in a quick stick)1890 ek dum1895 tout de suite1895 bung1899 one time1899 prompt1910 yesterday1911 in two ups1934 presto changeo1946 now-now1966 presto change1987 society > trade and finance > payment > [adverb] > immediate or cash down?a1425 on the nail1569 spot1855 1569 T. Stocker tr. Plutarch Life of Demetre ii, in tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. Successors Alexander iv. f. 140 He..made the paysaunts compound wt him for .xij. hundred Talents: which they payed on the nayle. 1596 T. Nashe Haue with you to Saffron-Walden sig. Gv Tell mee, haue you a minde to anie thing in the Doctors Booke? speake the word, and I will help you to it vpon the naile. a1640 P. Massinger City-Madam (1658) i. i. 6 A paiment on the nail for a Mannor Late purchas'd by my Master. 1694 L. Echard tr. Plautus Epidicus i. iii, in tr. Plautus Comedies 90 I've occasion for a hundred Pounds down o' the Nail. 1720 J. Swift Run on Bankers in Wks. (1755) IV. i. 22 We want our money on the nail. 1764 Oxf. Sausage 74 I on the Nail my Battels paid. 1839 W. Carleton Fardorougha xviii. 424 Answer me that, on the nail! 1887 A. Birrell Obiter Dicta 2nd Ser. 165 He..paid for him on the nail with other people's money. 1922 C. E. Montague Disenchantment (1924) vi. 87 ‘We never used to open the afternoon letters till the next day.’ He felt that life would lose its old-world bloom if he had to do things on the nail. 1988 A. Macrae Awful Childhoods iv. 47 If she paid him cash on the nail he could do the same to the suppliers. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > in preparation [phrase] > in a state of preparation or readiness in a readiness1511 in procinct1540 in readiness1541 at a point1611 on the nail1623 1623 F. Ryves Let. in R. Parr Life J. Usher (1686) Coll. lxi. 301 After a while, that Negotiation was hung up upon the Nail, in expectance of the Princes return. 1846 W. S. Landor Citation & Exam. Shakespere in Wks. II. 276 He sighed too..and had ne'er a word on the nail. ΚΠ 1679 tr. M. Mancini Apol. 96 While my Caleche..ran all on the Nayl [Fr. voloit] by the Road, and I endeavour'd by travelling all night to repair my loss of time. 1743 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman Oct. xv. 73 It is in their Power to forbear such Work, till dry Weather favours their Design; and then Carts are drawn, as we call it, on the Nail, without damaging their arable Lands. 1765 G. Keate Temple-student 23 A Turnpike's made, you'll travel easy; Ruts, Bogs, and Clays no more prevail, You'll now run glibly on the Nail. a1839 J. Smith Mem., Lett. & Comic Misc. (1840) I. 130 Your bowling-green roads..Are merely constructed for safety and ease; You ‘run on the nail’, so decidedly dry, You are puzzled to know if you ride, swim, or fly. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > snare, trap, entanglement > [adjective] > entangled, trapped intricate1526 intricated1565 laqueat1575 greedy1590 engaged1615 on the nail1810 1810 J. Porter Sc. Chiefs II. xii. 332 We shall have the rogues on the nail, yet. a1849 H. Coleridge Schiller's Transl. Macbeth in Poems (1851) II. 274 With a golden burden the full net swagg'd. 'Tis down on the nail the yellow ones glimmer. e. Contemporary, current; up-to-date. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > [adverb] > under consideration in view?c1475 in one's eye?1567 in speculation1638 under consideration1652 on (upon) the tapis1690 on the carpet1726 in contemplation1773 on (also upon) the table1884 on the nail1886 1886 W. T. Stead in Contemp. Rev. May 666 The enormous advantage of being up to date, of discussing subjects that are, in the slang phrase, ‘on the nail’. 1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 18 Nov. 2/1 We must leave Spiritualism..for Theosophy, a subject at present very much ‘on the nail’. 1903 T. W. H. Crosland Five Notions 85 He likes his news frequent and newsy and neat, And he's right on the nail. f. Exactly right. ΚΠ 1958 G. Greene Our Man in Havana (1962) 11 ‘I mean, you are thinking of buying one?’ ‘That's it, old man, you've hit it on the nail.’ 1978 M. Wandor et al. Journeyman Press 91 What she was really saying was half right on the nail, and half like a whirlpool that sucks everything into it. 1988 Pilot Nov. 41/2 I was advised to make an initial approach at 90 mph and cross the boundary at 85... I arrived on the nail a few feet above the runway threshold at the recommended 85 mph. P4. Scottish and Irish English. a. to go (also be) off at the nail: to behave strangely; to go mad; to be off one's head. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > be or become mad [verb (intransitive)] dwelec900 wedec900 awedeeOE starea1275 braidc1275 ravea1325 to be out of mindc1325 woodc1374 to lose one's mindc1380 madc1384 forgetc1385 to go out of one's minda1398 to wede (out) of, but wita1400 foolc1400 to go (also fall, run) mada1450 forcene1490 ragec1515 waltc1540 maddle?c1550 to go (also run, set) a-madding (or on madding)1565 pass of wita1616 to have a gad-bee in one's brain1682 madden1704 to go (also be) off at the nail1721 distract1768 craze1818 to get a rat1890 to need (to have) one's head examined (also checked, read)1896 (to have) bats in the belfryc1901 to have straws in one's hair1923 to take the bats1927 to go haywire1929 to go mental1930 to go troppo1941 to come apart1954 1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 173 He is gone off at the Nail..means that he is gone out of all bounds of Reason. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety Ascertained II. 119 But I dread he'l gae af at the nail wih hemsal: I wos he mayna saw aw staps, or gang a gray gate. 1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie II. xiv. 135 I see ye're terrified, and think I'm going off at the nail. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inheritance lix They [sc. servants] are really going off at the nail. 1897 W. Beatty Secretar xlix That woman's aff at the nail. 1902 J. J. Bell Wee Macgreegor ii Ye're fair aff at the nail the day! 1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 193 To go off at the nail, to become flustered, confused. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [adjective] > drunk > partially drunk merrya1382 semi-bousyc1460 pipe merry1542 totty1570 tipsy1577 martin-drunk1592 pleasant1596 mellow1611 tip-merry1612 flustered1615 lusticka1616 well to live1619 jolly1652 happy1662 hazy1673 top-heavy1687 hearty1695 half-seas-over1699 oiled1701 mellowish1703 half channelled over1709 drunkish1710 half-and-half1718 touched1722 uppisha1726 tosie1727 bosky1730 funny1751 fairish1756 cherry-merry1769 in suds1770 muddy1776 glorious1790 groggified1796 well-corned1800 fresh1804 to be mops and brooms1814 foggy1816 how-come-ye-so1816 screwy1820 off the nail1821 on (also, esp. in early use, upon) the go1821 swipey1821 muggy1822 rosy1823 snuffy1823 spreeish1825 elevated1827 up a stump1829 half-cockedc1830 tightish1830 tipsified1830 half shaved1834 screwed1837 half-shot1838 squizzed1845 drinky1846 a sheet in the wind1862 tight1868 toppy1885 tiddly1905 oiled-up1918 bonkers1943 sloshed1946 tiddled1956 hickey- 1821 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 657/1 I was what you would call a thought aff the nail, by the which my sleep was na just what it should have been. P5. In comparisons, as hard (also tough, sharp) as nails. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [adjective] > lacking emotional sensibility unfeelingc1000 mis-feelinga1382 stonishc1450 unpainfulc1450 obtuse1509 sprightlessa1522 insensate1553 senseless1560 soulless1568 dull-esprited1591 impassible1592 bluntie1598 impenetrable1600 stockish1600 stolidc1600 incapable1601 stupid1605 tasteless1605 unsensitive1610 unexalted1611 insensible1617 unsensible1619 languid1622 immovable1639 dead-hearted1642 sterile1642 resupine1643 unaffectionate1645 iron-bound1648 resentlessa1649 torpid1656 torpulent1657 impassive1699 unreceptive1722 hebete1743 apathetic1744 stubbed1744 gustless1766 unresponsive1768 unsusceptible1779 tideless-blooded1786 unaffectioned1788 inaccessible1796 hebetudinous1820 unimpressible1828 insensitive1834 apathetical1835 non-sensitive1836 blunt-hearted1845 irreceptive1846 unreceptant1846 unimpressionable1847 anaesthetic1860 insentient1860 hard (also tough, sharp) as nails1862 unsqueamish1893 tone-deaf1894 unget-at-able1897 facty1901 zombie1937 pegamoid1957 the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily strength > [adjective] > robust strongeOE hardOE stalworthc1175 starka1250 stiff1297 steel to the (very) backa1300 stalworthyc1300 wightc1300 stable13.. valiant1303 stithc1325 toughc1330 wrast1338 stoura1350 sadc1384 wighty14.. derfc1440 substantialc1460 well-jointed1483 felon1487 robust1490 stalwart1508 stoutya1529 robustous?1531 rankc1540 hardy1548 robustious1548 stout1576 rustical1583 rustic1620 iron1638 robustic1652 swankinga1704 strapping1707 rugged1731 solid1741 vaudy1793 flaithulach1829 ironbark1833 swankie1838 tough as (old) boots or leather1843 skookum1847 hard (also tough, sharp) as nails1862 hard-assed1954 nails1974 1862 ‘Scrutator’ Country Gentleman I. v. 80 They have had their regular sweats, hard as nails in condition, splendid animals to look at, heads and tails well up. 1899 H. K. Douglas I rode with Stonewall (1940) xviii. 214 In this case General Jackson was as hard as nails... I never knew him in such a case to temper justice with mercy. 1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop vii. 69 Dad was hard as nails with his men, though he worked as hard, or harder, than any of them himself. 1935 C. G. Givens Rose Petal Murders v. 28 Della was a pretty little thing. Tough as nails—on the surface. She could—and did—swear like a sailor. 1939 A. Christie Murder is Easy 77 Most of these rambling old dears are as sharp as nails in some ways. 1971 P. Berton Last Spike 406 ‘Hostess houses’ sprang up, presided over by such interesting ladies as Madame Foster..and Irish Nell, described as being ‘tough as nails but with a heart of gold’. 1994 Capilano Rev. Fall 14 She was sharp as nails, that one. < as lemmas |
| 随便看 |
|
英语词典包含1132095条英英释义在线翻译词条，基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。