nailed

v. fixed or attached to something using a small metal pin.

v. fastened or secured to a surface using a metal spike or pin. Transitive; requires a direct object.

“He nailed the wooden boards together to build a small birdhouse.”

“The carpenter nailed the decorative trim to the door frame, ensuring each head was flush with the wood surface before painting.”

v. did something successfully or perfectly, especially a difficult task.

v. to perform a task or action with complete success or precision. Informal register; often used in performance or testing contexts.

“She was nervous about the presentation, but she totally nailed it.”

“The gymnast nailed her landing after a complex series of flips, securing the highest score of the afternoon session.”

Informal

v. caught someone doing something wrong or illegal.

v. to catch, expose, or arrest someone for a crime or mistake. Informal register; implies a definitive capture or proof of guilt.

“The police finally nailed the thief after finding his fingerprints on the safe.”

“The investigators finally nailed the executive for tax evasion after discovering a hidden set of financial records in his private office.”

Informal

adj. having a specific type of nails on your fingers or on an object.

adj. possessing nails of a specified type; almost exclusively used in compound adjectives.

“The old chest was brass-nailed and looked very expensive.”

“The creature was described in the folklore as a long-nailed beast that lived deep within the mountain caves.”

Technical