# nailed

/ˈneɪɫd/ (US) · /nˈeɪld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nailed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. fixed with a nail

verb · CEFR A2

fixed or attached to something using a small metal pin.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. did something perfectly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

did something successfully or perfectly, especially a difficult task.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. caught a criminal

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

caught someone doing something wrong or illegal.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. having nails

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually appears as part of a compound word like 'sharp-nailed' or 'brass-nailed'.

## Examples

- She nailed the presentation and got the promotion.
- The gymnast nailed her landing, securing the highest score of the entire competition.
- While the script was mediocre, the lead actor absolutely nailed the character's complex emotional transition, turning a predictable scene into something genuinely moving.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.