nailed
v. · adj.-
1 fixed with a nail (v.) A2 Elementaryfixed or attached to something using a small metal pin.
fastened or secured to a surface using a metal spike or pin. Transitive; requires a direct object.
ExampleHe nailed the wooden boards together to build a small birdhouse.
ExampleThe carpenter nailed the decorative trim to the door frame, ensuring each head was flush with the wood surface before painting.
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2 did something perfectly (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informaldid something successfully or perfectly, especially a difficult task.
to perform a task or action with complete success or precision. Informal register; often used in performance or testing contexts.
ExampleShe was nervous about the presentation, but she totally nailed it.
ExampleThe gymnast nailed her landing after a complex series of flips, securing the highest score of the afternoon session.
- aced
- perfected
- mastered
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3 caught a criminal (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Lawcaught someone doing something wrong or illegal.
to catch, expose, or arrest someone for a crime or mistake. Informal register; implies a definitive capture or proof of guilt.
ExampleThe police finally nailed the thief after finding his fingerprints on the safe.
ExampleThe investigators finally nailed the executive for tax evasion after discovering a hidden set of financial records in his private office.
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4 having nails (adj.) C2 Proficiency Technicalhaving a specific type of nails on your fingers or on an object.
possessing nails of a specified type; almost exclusively used in compound adjectives.
ExampleThe old chest was brass-nailed and looked very expensive.
ExampleThe creature was described in the folklore as a long-nailed beast that lived deep within the mountain caves.
UsageUsually appears as part of a compound word like 'sharp-nailed' or 'brass-nailed'.
Last updated June 20, 2026