nail
Third Person
nails
Present Participle
nailing
Past Tense
nailed
Past Participle
nailed
1
to attach something securely by using small pointed metal pieces
transitive
- The carpenter will nail the wooden boards together to construct the frame of the house.
- They are nailing the fence panels for added security.
- The carpenter has nailed the beams for structural support.
- I have already nailed the artwork to the gallery wall.
- She decided to nail the signpost to the ground for better visibility.
2
to easily succeed at doing something
transitive
- She nailed the interview and got the job on the spot.
- Despite his nerves, he nailed the presentation and impressed the entire board.
- With years of practice, she nailed the high notes in the song effortlessly.
- After months of preparation, they nailed the pitch and secured the funding for their startup.
- The actor nailed the audition and landed the lead role in the movie.
3
to find or catch someone for doing something wrong or illegal
transitive
- The detective finally nailed the suspect after months of surveillance.
- The undercover agent was able to nail the smugglers in a sting operation.
- The security cameras nailed the thief as he attempted to steal from the store.
- Despite his attempts to cover his tracks, the forensic evidence nailed the murderer.
- The whistleblower's testimony helped to nail the corrupt politician.
4
to hit the ball forcefully and accurately
transitive
- With a swift swing, she nailed the tennis ball across the court, scoring a clean winner.
- Despite the pressure, he managed to nail the crucial penalty kick, securing victory for his team.
- The baseball player nailed the pitch, sending the ball soaring over the outfield fence for a home run.
- She stepped up to the free throw line and nailed both shots, securing the victory for her team.
- The quarterback nailed the long pass, connecting with his receiver for a touchdown.
5
to clearly and unmistakably establish or identify something
transitive
- The artist nailed every detail of the landscape, capturing its essence with stunning accuracy.
- Despite the complexity of the problem, the engineer nailed the solution on the first try.
- The journalist interviewed multiple sources and nailed the facts of the story before publishing it.
- The contractor meticulously planned the construction project and nailed every detail in the blueprint.
- The historian's thorough investigation of primary sources enabled them to nail the exact date of the event.
Synonyms: