nick

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun British English · Informal

n. the physical state or health of something or someone.

n. the physical state or condition of an object or person; frequently used in the phrases 'in good nick' or 'in bad nick'.

“For an old car, it is still in really good nick.”

“Despite its age, the original manuscript was in remarkably good nick, with no signs of water damage or fading.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Slang

n. a place where the police take people who are arrested.

n. a police station or a prison cell.

“He spent a night in the nick after the fight at the pub.”

“The suspect was taken down to the nick for questioning regarding the recent string of local burglaries.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate British English · Informal

v. to take something that does not belong to you.

v. to steal something, typically an item of low to moderate value.

“Someone nicked my bike while I was in the shop.”

“He admitted he had nicked a few chocolate bars from the corner store when he was a teenager.”

C1 · Advanced Law British English · Slang

v. when the police catch someone and take them away.

v. to apprehend or arrest a suspect.

“The police nicked him just as he was trying to leave the country.”

“The undercover officers moved in to nick the dealers during the hand-over of the illicit goods.”