nail1 nounnail2 verb
nailnail1 /neɪl/ ●●● S3 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINnail1
Origin:
Old English næglEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Nurse Duckett sat buffing her nails.
- Always use a base coat to even out the nail surface and to prevent dark polishes staining.
- His Dad kept it hanging on a nail in the shed and he'd have noticed right away if it was missing.
- I took something from the land and buildings, pieces of bottles and some nails.
- Police Minister Avigdor Kahalani said the explosives were pipe bombs packed with nails.
- She came again, her body wracked with spasms, her nails tearing into his arms.
- The deeply incised DE/ED made with a red-hot nail was visible for anyone to see.
- There will be skin and blood under the nails.
Longman Language Activatorto be correct in what you say or think
· You're right - there's not going to be enough food for everyone.be right about · Durrell is absolutely right about the importance of software to the local economy.be right about one thing (=say this when part of someone's opinion or what they say is right, but the rest is wrong) · It's not a great album, but Samuels was right about one thing: it's going to sell in the millions.be right in saying/thinking etc · Moore is right in saying that the present tax system is unfair.
to say the correct facts or details when you are telling a story, describing an event etc: · Make sure you get people's names right when you're sending out the invitations.· "I learned," he stopped, wanting to get the words right, "I learned I was selfish."
if someone is correct in saying or thinking a particular fact, the fact is correct, especially when they are not sure if it is correct or not: · Monroe was correct in saying that unemployment has dropped in the last five years.· I believe I am correct in saying that two of the original computer languages were Cobol and Prolog.· The jury was correct in thinking that the prosecution had not presented a strong case.
to not yet know the complete answer to a question or problem, but be close to finding it because you are already partly correct: · No, that's not quite right, but you're on the right track.· Researchers are still a long way from finding a cure for the disease, but many seem confident they are on the right track.
to say something that is exactly right and that is the answer to a problem which people have been thinking about for a long time: · Garson hits the nail on the head - at the heart of the abortion debate is a religious issue.· Wyman put his finger on it when he said the truth was complicated.
British informal to be exactly right, especially by guessing correctly: · "Is the answer 42?" "You're spot on! Well done, Mary."
someone or something that is infallible is always right and never makes mistakes - use this especially to say that this is not usually true or is extremely rare: · Computer spell checkers are useful but far from infallible.· Juries are not infallible. Innocent people are convicted, and guilty people go free.
WORD SETSAC, accessory, nounadapter, nounaerosol, nounalarm, nounarm, nounash, nounattaché case, nounbag, nounbar, nounbarrel, nounbeep, verbbeeswax, nounbell, nounbelly, nounbelt, nounbench, nounbenzine, nounbinding, nounbiro, nounbolt, nounbooth, nounbox, nounbox, verbbrad, nounbriefcase, nounbristle, nounbrolly, nounbrush, nounbucket, nounbuckle, nounbuffer, nounbulb, nounBulldog clip, nounbulletin board, nounbullhorn, nounbung, nounbunting, nounbusiness card, nounbutt, nounbutton, nounbuzzer, nouncable, nouncalling card, nouncan, nouncandle, nouncane, nouncarbon, nouncarbon copy, nouncarbon paper, nouncard, nouncardboard, nouncardboard, adjectivecardboard cut-out, nouncard catalog, nouncarrier, nouncarrier bag, nouncarryall, nouncart, nouncarton, nouncartridge, nouncase, nouncaster, nouncatch, nounCellophane, nouncesspit, nounchain, nounchalice, nounchannel, nounchart, nounchute, nouncitronella, nounclamp, nouncleat, nounclip, nounclipboard, nouncomb, nouncombination lock, nouncompartment, nouncord, nouncrank, nouncrate, nouncrepe paper, nouncycle, noundetector, noundial, noundigital, adjectivedisposable, adjectivedrape, verbdrawing pin, noundryer, noundurable goods, nounDurex, nounearplug, nounelastic band, nouneraser, nouneyelet, nounfabric, nounfelt-tip pen, nounfemale, adjectivefence, nounfiberglass, nounfibreglass, nounfigurine, nounfilament, nounfile, verbFilofax, nounfire extinguisher, nounfirewood, nounfitness, nounflag, nounflagon, nounflagstaff, nounflashlight, nounflat, adjectivefloodlight, nounfoam, nounfoam, verbfog, verbfolder, nounfoolscap, nounforecourt, nounfountain, nounfountain pen, nounframe, nounfunnel, nounfuse, noungadget, noungadgetry, noungargle, verbgas, nounglue, noungoggles, noungold card, noungranny knot, noungravel, noungravelled, adjectivegravelly, adjectivegrease, noungreetings card, noungrommet, noungum, noungun, noungunnysack, noungut, nounhand-held, adjectivehandle, nounhandloom, nounharness, nounhasp, nounhealth, nounhessian, nounhinge, nounhip, nounhoarding, nounhoist, nounholder, nounhook, nounhoop, nounhooter, nounhose, nounhosepipe, nounhub, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveillness, nounindented, adjectiveinflatable, adjectiveingrained, adjectiveink, nouninn, nouninnkeeper, nouninsoluble, adjectiveivory, nounjacket, nounjack-knife, nounjoss stick, nounjuggle, verbkey, nounkeypad, nounkey ring, nounKleenex, nounknife, nounknob, nounlabel, nounladder, nounlantern, nounlatch, nounlatchkey, nounlather, nounlather, verbLCD, nounlead, nounlectern, nounlegal pad, nounlens, nounletterbox, nounlever, nounlibrary, nounlid, nounlidded, adjectivelift, nounlight, nounlight bulb, nounlink, nounlinseed oil, nounlitter bin, nounlock, nounlodestone, nounlog, nounloop, verblost property, nounmagnet, nounmagnetic, adjectivemagnifying glass, nounmale, adjectivemantle, nounmanual, adjectivemarker, nounmarker pen, nounmarket day, nounmast, nounmastic, nounmatchstick, nounmaterial, nounmeter, nounmeths, nounmode, nounmortar, nounmortise lock, nounmould, nounmounting, nounmovement, nounnail, nounnameplate, nounnet, nounnib, nounnipple, nounnon-standard, adjectivenoose, nounnotebook, nounnotepad, nounnoticeboard, nounnozzle, nounnut, nounoil, verboilcan, nounoily, adjectiveorb, nounoutfit, nounoutlet, nounovernight, adverbpack, verbpackage, nounpad, nounpad, verbpadlock, nounpaintwork, nounpantyliner, nounpaper, nounpaperclip, nounpasserby, nounpaste, verbpasteboard, nounpatron, nounpatronage, nounpatronize, verbpattern, nounpaving, nounpearl, nounpen, nounpenknife, nounpicket fence, nounpillbox, nounpince-nez, nounpinhead, nounpipe, nounpix, nounpizza parlor, nounplug, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket calculator, nounpocket knife, nounpointer, nounpoison, nounpole, nounportfolio, nounPost-it, nounpowder, nounpowdered, adjectivepropellant, nounpropelling pencil, nounpump-action, adjectivePX, nounquarter, verbrack, nounreceptionist, nounreel, nounrefill, nounreflector, nounrefrigerate, verbregimen, nounreservation, nounreserve, verbsachet, nounsack, nounscratchpad, nounscratch paper, nounscreen, nounsealant, nounsealer, nounsearchlight, nounseason ticket, nounseat, nounself-assembly, adjectiveseptic tank, nounservice, nounservice, verbsetting, nounshade, nounsharpener, nounshovel, nounshovel, verbshovelful, nounsilver paper, nounsiphon, nounslat, nounslice, verbslot machine, nounslug, nounsmoke, nounsoot, nounsort, nounspare part, nounspigot, nounsponge, nounspool, nounspout, nounspray, nounspray can, nounspray paint, nounspring, nounstaff, nounstake, nounstalk, nounstandard, nounstaple, nounstapler, nounstationery, nounsteam, nounsteam clean, verbsteel, nounsteel wool, nounstepladder, nounstick, verbstick, nounsticker, nounstilt, nounstopper, nounstorm lantern, nounstrap, nounstreamer, nounstring, nounstub, nounsucker, nounSuperglue, nounswipe, verbswitch, nounswivel, nountab, nountack, nountag, nountag, verbtank, nountap, nountape, nountassel, nountattle, verbtea break, nounthong, nounthread, nountime-saving, adjectivetinder, nountinderbox, nountissue, nountop, nountote bag, nountowel, verbtray, nountrolley, nountube, nountubing, nountwine, nountwo-way mirror, nounumbrella, nounvent, nounvial, nounwaiting room, nounwasher, nounwaste paper, nounwatch, nounwaterspout, nounwheeled, adjectivewhistle, verbwooden, adjectivewriting paper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 2adjectives
Her nails were bitten to the quick.
· Her long nails were painted a pearly pink.
· Her nails were short and uneven.
· How did you get such dirty nails?
· His nails were neat and clean.
(also fingernail)· She had small hands with polished finger nails.
(also toenail)· His toenails were long and dirty.
verbs· You should cut your nails more often!
(=cut a small amount off)· His nails were neatly trimmed.
· A girl was filing her nails on the bus.
· Eddie bit his nails nervously.
(=to put coloured liquid on your nails)· Don't paint short nails in dark colours.
(=to make your nails look attractive by cutting them and making the skin around them neat)· She had manicured nails and expensive clothes.
informal (=to cut or paint your nails)· She sat at her desk, doing her nails.
(=to accidentally damage a nail on one of your fingers)· Oh, no, I've broken a nail.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=bite the nails on your fingers, especially because you are nervous) I wish I could stop biting my nails.
I wish I could stop biting my nails. (=containing nails)
Her nails were bitten to the quick. (=very tough) He’s as tough as nails – a good man to have on the team.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE He’s as tough as nails – a good man to have on the team.· Some Tories have already warned that council tax could be the final nail in John Major's coffin.· For me this was the final nail in the coffin of a terminally dull product.· A final nail in the coffin had been hammered in by Wrede.· And Glentoran's win at Larne put the final nail in their faint qualifying hopes.· The second Nottingham try put the final nail into Gloucester's coffin.· This conclusion is the final nail in the coffin of the notion of sentential meaning.
· She reached for his hand, clutched it and dug in her long nails.· She looks elegant in her taupe pantsuit, her long nails manicured, her hair freshly washed, her makeup perfect.· He dug his long nails into them and stumbled to the cooking pot, almost running.· To Polly the long, crimson-enamelled nails looked as though they had been dipped in blood.· One has long nails painted blue; the other wears a felt hat with a feather.· Robert: I need a long nail to go right through.· They have long hair and long nails and, not unnaturally, a white pallor, and very little to eat.
· Traces of her red nail varnish, he noticed, could still be seen where her fingertips hadn't been eaten.· Her attempts to be my friend were false like her bright red nail varnish.
· Thérèse did not possess a hair shirt, or a belt spiked with rusty nails, or a scourge.· Tetanus: it doesn't have to be a rusty nail, the caption read.· In one bony hand he clutched an oak club driven through with rusty nails.
NOUN· David Copeland, 23, has admitted planting three nail bombs in London last April.· An estate agency employee in East Yorkshire suffered serious injuries from a nail bomb.
· At his own suggestion, Reg said Singh had personally removed that clause from my contract with his nail clippers.· It was like trimming a lawn with nail clippers.· First, use nail clippers rather than scissors to cut the mails.
· I had to bend over, parallel to the body, to get the nail file under the nails.· He glanced around, then took a nail file from his pocket and set to work on the padlock.· Contains: two pairs of angled scissors, tweezers, large and small angled cuticle pushers, nail file and cleaner.· If they're a bit blunt rub the tip with a nail file.· Peg opens a drawer and gets out a nail file from a manicure set.
· Her finger nails were shiny long and black, and her face was floury white.· The figure leaned over, struck once and Martin felt his face tear as long, jagged finger nails ripped into him.· Quiet, reserved, with finger nails bitten down to the quick, Jim stood just five foot six inches tall.· Male speaker There's no more finger nail inspections and things like that.
· A muscle near her right cheekbone fluttered at erratic intervals, and the nail polish was chipped.· To remove melted plastic from an appliance, unplug appliance and dab off spot with nail polish remover.· That nail polish was a positive match, and she's got some explaining to do.· Parma and Jaivi, Hatti and Latchi called me over to their bed to try out the nail polishes.· As well as keeping some nail polish remover at home, make sure you carry some handy remover of emergencies.· Did I happen to have any nail polish with me?· Even fashion products such as nail polish or lipstick, which do have regular changes of colour, can benefit greatly.· Men are wearing nail polish, did you know?
· When the paint has dried, varnish it over with clear nail varnish to keep the colours bright and shiny.· Her fingers were stained with dirt, her nail varnish chipped.· Traces of her red nail varnish, he noticed, could still be seen where her fingertips hadn't been eaten.· They were slim, pale and elegant, and she wore colourless or pearl nail varnish.· Her nail varnish was pearly pink.· This can be prevented by painting the surface of the clean key cap with clear nail varnish.· As hair gets tied back, so nail varnish comes off and old, stain-absorbing clothes go on.
VERB· Breaking a habit, be it over-eating, over-drinking, biting your nails or jumping to conclusions, is a tall order.· They are biting their nails, glancing from their consoles to the countdown clock.· Emmie had stood in the doorway, biting her nails.· In fact, they had fewer reasons to bite their nails over the course of the century.· You overeat, smoke, drink, bite your nails etc.· During a time-out, Eddie bites her nails.· And he had bitten his nails so that his fingers hurt and ran with blood.· Her eyes went back to the screen, and she bit her nails.
· Every person born female eventually experiences the annoyance of a broken nail, the peculiar agony of a bad haircut.
· She chewed her nails in Muir of Ord.· When you left, Faunce was chewing nails!· And there one writing, probably a letter, holding the paper sideways and chewing her nails.
· They had a hammer to drive the nails in.· He could drive a nail home in two perfect blows to the head.· In one bony hand he clutched an oak club driven through with rusty nails.· We drove a nail through its heart.· His ears felt as if some one were trying to drive six inch nails into them.· Make sure you drive nails into the joists, not just into the subfloor.· You were invited to drive the nail through the timber to the other side with one blow from a hammer.
· Opponents in Parliament, which has to vote on the measure, vowed to fight it tooth and nail.· He fought tooth and nail for 15 months before going to sleep one final night last week.· They fought tooth and nail through an initial series of leagues and finished in seven knockout matches.· I know we doctors have fought you tooth and nail.· Exceptionally, if a Bill is extremely controversial, the opposition may fight it tooth and nail even at this stage.· Legislation aimed at forcing the power firms to clean up their act is being fought tooth and nail by the polluters.
· Or does one hammer the nails into one's own coffin?· The Halutzim were busy packing boxes, hammering nails, tying up chests, writing labels with thick pens and pencils.· This will be awkward to achieve ergonomically because it is more easy for a person to hammer nails straight in.
· She might dislike Piers Morrison, but he had a knack of hitting the nail on the head.· These poems will make me famous. Hit the nail on the head.· If Jack had been trying to find a way to impress Polly he had hit the nail on the head.· My friend, you have hit the nail on the head.
· I took off my shoulder bag and binoculars and hung them on nails hammered into the slightly crumbling concrete.· Gabriel put them all into a canvas bag and hung them on a nail inside the cottage door.· He carried it like that to the garage and hung it on a nail just inside the door.· When I had finished I took off my coat and hung it on a nail.· Clothes are hung from nails, and cooking is done over an open fire.· A hurricane lamp was hung on another nail.
· Don't paint short nails with dark colours.· She was wearing sandals which exposed her toes, and she had painted her nails.· Chapter Eight Margaret and Maura were in Maura's bedroom, painting their nails.· I had never seen her with painted nails.· I decide to change, it's easier than painting my nails again.· The clear-painted nails of her feet on the carpet.
· Don't struggle: take a grip with pincers or pliers and remove the sucker as though pulling out a nail.· I pulled a couple of nails and slid out a board.· Choose a claw hammer, which can pull nails out as well as drive them.· As the surgeon pulled the nail up, black juice ran out.
· It was hard to hear what was being said, but some one had put a nail through a pipe.· And Glentoran's win at Larne put the final nail in their faint qualifying hopes.· It not only puts another nail in socialism's coffin, but deprives him of a peerage.· The second Nottingham try put the final nail into Gloucester's coffin.
· Remove all nails 4 Reposition the battens, using galvanised nails.· For the fourth corner he used a nail.· The bow theme is used to cover-up the nail and string holding the picture.· Then finish nailing, using the nails that come with the hangers.· If you must nail your deck, there are some tricks you can use.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fight tooth and nail (for something)/fight something tooth and nail
1- A final nail in the coffin had been hammered in by Wrede.
- Another loss would be another nail in Branfoots managerial coffin.
- For me this was the final nail in the coffin of a terminally dull product.
- In the end, it was also the issue which secured a vital nail in the coffin of Britain's nuclear dream.
- Industry observers fear that this would be another nail in the coffin of the independent record industry.
- It also is one more nail in the coffin of formal decor.
- It is another nail in the coffin of deterrence even if the first generation of cruise will be slow for such a role.
- Was not the film's very name, Last Resort, another nail in Margate's coffin?
- Willie O'Connor is as hard as nails and Liam Simpson takes no prisoners.
- I bet they paid their £1.80 on the nail when they got the magazine.
- Not paying on the nail could be extremely expensive.
- She brought the hammer down on the nail.
- The first one mounted the runway and briskly walked its length, barefoot on the nail points.
- The lavatories also had a birthday, and Dad left ours unlocked with plenty of fresh newspaper on the nail.
- The Tories got it absolutely on the nail.
- I paint her face and do her hair.
- I said, I did, I was approached about who does your hair?
- It's to do with the hair.
- Now, do you want me to do your make-up, or not?
- One test of our response to the change made by age is what we decide to do about grey hair.
- She said that the day of the wedding, she should do my hair first.
- The working class adolescent of the 60s had quite a job deciding what to do with his hair.
- Hard as nails he may be but don't let anyone tell you Hank hasn't got a sense of humour.
- Beautiful but hard as nails, she'd thought then.
- Willie O'Connor is as hard as nails and Liam Simpson takes no prisoners.
- If Jack had been trying to find a way to impress Polly he had hit the nail on the head.
- My friend, you have hit the nail on the head.
- She might dislike Piers Morrison, but he had a knack of hitting the nail on the head.
- If they are undamaged remove the polish with nail varnish remover.
- We had to fight tooth and nail to get the government to admit they were wrong.
- He fought tooth and nail for 15 months before going to sleep one final night last week.
- He would also fight tooth and nail to keep her from the likes of Tommy Allen.
- Legislation aimed at forcing the power firms to clean up their act is being fought tooth and nail by the polluters.
- They fought tooth and nail through an initial series of leagues and finished in seven knockout matches.
- They fought tooth and nail to protect the solicitors' monopoly of conveyancing but eventually compromised by not objecting to licensed conveyancers.
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.2your 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, toenail3nail in somebody’s/something’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 coffin4as hard/tough as nails very tough and not easily frightened, or not caring about the effects of your actions on other people5on 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)COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2adjectiveslong· 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.verbscut 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.nail1 nounnail2 verb
nailnail2 verb [transitive] VERB TABLE
nail
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | nail |
| he, she, it | nails | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | nailed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have nailed |
| he, she, it | has nailed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had nailed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will nail |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have nailed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am nailing |
| he, she, it | is nailing | |
| you, we, they | are nailing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was nailing |
| you, we, they | were nailing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been nailing |
| he, she, it | has been nailing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been nailing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be nailing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been nailing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A large American flag is nailed to the wall above the bed.
- Boitano nailed a superb triple axel jump.
- I got a hammer and nailed down the floorboards.
- Myers was nailed for selling marijuana.
- Police use radar to nail speeding drivers.
- Someone nailed the kitchen cabinets shut.
- The desks in all the classrooms were nailed to the floor.
- The windows had been nailed shut.
- We watched as Dad nailed the fence panels together.
- For their sins, they were both nailed and all but crucified on the reef.
- Landry said his radar gun had nailed Soares going 82 m. p. h. on I-93.
- She nails the quips and finds extra laughs between the lines.
- So how did we nail the opportunist without resorting to high-level warfare?
- The door to the servants' quarters in the attics had been nailed up.
- These need to be screwed or nailed to the floorboards below.
Longman Language Activatorto attach one thing to another so that it stays in position
to join one thing to another, especially something larger, using glue, string, wires etc to keep it there: · Get your receipt, attach it, and send it in .attach something to something: · A copy of my resumé is attached to this letter.· The doctor will attach a monitor to your stomach so that she can listen to the baby's heart.
to attach one thing to another firmly, but in a way that makes it easy to remove again: · Passengers should keep their seat belts fastened until the warning light is extinguished.fasten something to something: · Christine fastened the brooch to her dress.· Make sure the wires are properly fastened to the unit.fasten something on/around/over etc: · Divers fasten weights around their waists to help them stay under water.· She fastened her broad hat beneath her chin.
British to attach one thing to another so that it will stay permanently in this position, for example by using nails, screws, or strong glue: fix something to something: · He fixed the lamp to the wall above the bed with a couple of screws.· I don't think it's fixed to the ceiling very securely.fix something on something: · I tried to fix them on the door, but they wouldn't stay.
to attach one thing to another using nails: nail something to something: · A large American flag is nailed to the wall above the bed.· The desks in all the classrooms were nailed to the floor.nail something on/together/down etc: · We watched as Dad nailed the fence panels together.· I got a hammer and nailed down the floorboards.· The windows had been nailed shut.
to attach something using a pin , especially to your clothes: pin something to: · He had pinned a red rose to his jacket.· Each delegate wore a name tag pinned to their lapel. pin something on/up/together etc: · One of the straps was pinned in place with two safety pins.· A note was pinned on the door of his office.
when the police catch a criminal · Police say they are determined to catch the killer.· A lot of thieves never get caught.
if a police officer arrests someone they catch them, tell them officially that they have done something illegal, and take them away: · Police arrested twenty-six demonstrators.· Nine men were arrested in drug raids, Saturday.arrest somebody for something: · Wallace was arrested for assault.· Dwayne has been arrested for drunk driving again.
especially British to catch and punish someone for something illegal they have done: · They still haven't got the man who did it.
informal to catch someone and prove that they are guilty of a crime: · Police use radar to nail speeding drivers.nail somebody for something: · Myers was nailed for selling marijuana.
if the police take someone into custody , they take that person and put them in prison until they appear in court, because they think the person is guilty of a crime: · Officers took three suspects into custody Friday morning.· As soon as the plane landed, the men were taken into custody by waiting FBI agents.
WORD SETSagent, nounbaton, nounbeat, nounbobby, nounbody armour, nounbody search, nounbook, verbchief constable, nounchief inspector, nounchief superintendent, nounCID, the, commander, nouncommissioner, nouncomposite, nounconstable, nounconstabulary, nouncop, nouncopper, nouncop shop, nouncruiser, noundetective, noundragnet, nounFBI, the, flying squad, nounFraud Squad, nounfrisk, verbgendarme, nounguard dog, nounhighway patrol, nounhomicide, nouninformant, nouninspector, nounInterpol, nouninvestigation, nounlaw enforcement agent, nounlawman, nounmanor, nounMetropolitan Police, the, MI5, nounmissing person, nounMountie, nounmugshot, nounnab, verbnail, verbnarc, nounnark, nounnick, verbnightstick, nounofficer, nounoperation, nounpaddy wagon, nounPanda car, nounpatrol, nounpatrol car, nounpatrolman, nounpig, nounplain-clothes, adjectiveplastic bullet, nounpolice constable, nounpolice department, nounpolice dog, nounpolice force, nounpoliceman, nounpolice officer, nounpolice station, nounpolicewoman, nounprecinct, nounquell, verbquestion, verbradar trap, nounraid, nounraid, verbrank, nounrap sheet, nounriot police, nounroadblock, nounScotland Yard, search warrant, nounsheriff, nounshield, nounsnout, nounspecial agent, nounSpecial Branch, nounspecial constable, nounsquad, nounsquad car, nounstate trooper, nounstation house, nounstore detective, nounsupergrass, nounsuperintendent, nountraffic cop, nountrooper, nountruncheon, nounwarrant, nounwater cannon, nounWPC, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I thought that song might be too big for you, but you absolutely nailed it!COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Her nails were bitten to the quick.
I thought that song might be too big for you, but you absolutely nailed it! (=bite the nails on your fingers, especially because you are nervous) I wish I could stop biting my nails.
I wish I could stop biting my nails. (=containing nails)
Her nails were bitten to the quick. (=very tough) He’s as tough as nails – a good man to have on the team.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB He’s as tough as nails – a good man to have on the team.· We have nailed down the lid on the recession.· Mayer, the mapmaker, worked in Nuremberg, nailing down precise coordinates for the productions of the Homann Cartographic Bureau.· Any attempt to nail down individuals with the aid of rules and collective values seems doomed to vague and complex generalities.· But representatives of both sides said, and independent analysts agreed, that the Hebron deal itself is virtually nailed down.· In principle, the techniques were now established by which other antibacterial substances could be nailed down.· Laughter, he says, serves some primitive social function, not yet nailed down.· It showed a coffin with the lid nailed down and two candles burning at the head.· If it wasn't nailed down, they took it.
· Voice over For the time being, he's nailed up the back door, just in case anyone feels like trying again.· Second, you could nail up corner blocks, those square blocks of pine with a an embossed circle in the middle.· The door to the servants' quarters in the attics had been nailed up.· While we were nailing up that big front door, these guys were sneaking in around the back.· Inside, the door to the North Bedroom had been nailed up, to prevent anyone from wandering in there by accident.· Then he nailed up the shed door.
NOUN· As like a man nailed to a cross in a place called Golgotha.· He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
· But a theater is nailed in place, this one on the northeast corner of F Street and Third Avenue.
· They fought tooth and nail to protect the solicitors' monopoly of conveyancing but eventually compromised by not objecting to licensed conveyancers.· He would also fight tooth and nail to keep her from the likes of Tommy Allen.
· Poverty hung about the place like they'd framed it and nailed it to the walls.
VERB· They fought tooth and nail to protect the solicitors' monopoly of conveyancing but eventually compromised by not objecting to licensed conveyancers.· He would also fight tooth and nail to keep her from the likes of Tommy Allen.
· Just try to nail it down.· They may try to nail it on the perch again but nobody will believe it is still alive.· Keeping his mind steadied was like trying to nail a raindrop to the wall.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► nail somebody down► nail a lie/myth► nail your colours to the mastPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► fight tooth and nail (for something)/fight something tooth and nail
1[always + adverb/preposition] to fasten something to something else with nailsnail something to something- He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.
- Poverty hung about the place like they'd framed it and nailed it to the walls.
- I paint her face and do her hair.
- I said, I did, I was approached about who does your hair?
- It's to do with the hair.
- Now, do you want me to do your make-up, or not?
- One test of our response to the change made by age is what we decide to do about grey hair.
- She said that the day of the wedding, she should do my hair first.
- The working class adolescent of the 60s had quite a job deciding what to do with his hair.
- Hard as nails he may be but don't let anyone tell you Hank hasn't got a sense of humour.
- Beautiful but hard as nails, she'd thought then.
- Willie O'Connor is as hard as nails and Liam Simpson takes no prisoners.
- If Jack had been trying to find a way to impress Polly he had hit the nail on the head.
- My friend, you have hit the nail on the head.
- She might dislike Piers Morrison, but he had a knack of hitting the nail on the head.
- If they are undamaged remove the polish with nail varnish remover.
- We had to fight tooth and nail to get the government to admit they were wrong.
- He fought tooth and nail for 15 months before going to sleep one final night last week.
- He would also fight tooth and nail to keep her from the likes of Tommy Allen.
- Legislation aimed at forcing the power firms to clean up their act is being fought tooth and nail by the polluters.
- They fought tooth and nail through an initial series of leagues and finished in seven knockout matches.
- They fought tooth and nail to protect the solicitors' monopoly of conveyancing but eventually compromised by not objecting to licensed conveyancers.
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.2informal 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.3informal if you nail something, you succeed in getting it, after a lot of time or effort: She finally nailed her dream job.4informal to do something perfectly, especially when singing or performing: I thought that song might be too big for you, but you absolutely nailed it!5nail a lie/myth British English informal to prove that what someone has said is completely untrue6 nail your colours to the mast British English to say clearly and publicly which ideas or which people you support7 nail somebody to the wall/cross especially American English to punish someone severelynail somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb informal1to 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 donail down to Before they repair the car, nail them down to a price.