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⇱ nail - WordReference.com English Collocations

nail

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈneɪl/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/neɪl/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(nāl)

Collocations for "nail"


Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "nail" in context.

WordReference English Collocations © 2026

nail

ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.
n
  1. [hammer, pound] in a nail
  2. [hammer] a nail into the [wall, board]
  3. remove a nail
  4. cut [himself, her leg] on the nail
  5. [ripped, tore] her [shirt, pants] on the nail
  6. got his [shirt] caught on the nail
  7. caught his [shirt] on the nail
  8. a [bent, rusty] nail
  9. idiom: that's the nail in the coffin!
  10. idiom: was the last nail in the coffin
  11. idiom: hit the nail on the head!
  12. idiom: hit the nail on the head with that [one, answer]!
  13. think I broke a nail
  14. stop biting your nails!
  15. [clip, cut] your nails
  16. paint your nails
  17. [get, have] your nails [done, painted]
  18. UK: had to pay on the nail
  19. wearing nail polish
  20. go to a nail salon
  21. proper nail care
  22. a pair of nail clippers
  23. using a nail file
  24. is a nail biter
  25. a nail-biting [end, finish, book]
v
  1. nail a [picture, notice, poster] on the [wall, board, lamppost]
  2. nailed the [picture] to the [wall]
  3. nail the [picture] up
  4. nail up the [picture]
  5. nail [up, shut] the [crate, window, coffin]
  6. nailed the [crate] [up]
  7. nailed [him, the suspect, the burglar] (for)
  8. nailed by [police officers, the authorities, a passer-by]
  9. it is [difficult, impossible] to nail him down
  10. (finally) nail down a [date, day, time]
  11. nail down [a contract, an agreement, an argument]
  12. nail [a contract] down
  13. nail the [song, performance, interview]
  14. (really) nailed it
  15. sexually explicit: nailed [her, his girlfriend, his wife]
n as adj
  1. wearing nail polish
  2. go to a nail salon
  3. proper nail care
  4. a pair of nail clippers
  5. using a nail file
  6. is a nail biter
adv
  1. a nail-biting [end, finish, book]
'nail' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "nail" in the title:

< Nail > Your Interview - English Only forum
, much like nail polish is used today... - English Only forum
... a nail in the wall - English Only forum
a bent-headed nail - English Only forum
a nail biter - English Only forum
A nail caught <in><on><> my pants - English Only forum
<a nail drives out another> vs. <out with the old, in with the new> - English Only forum
a nail poked/jabbed/went into my feet - English Only forum
a nail(s) box or a box of nails? - English Only forum
A rusty nail was protruding from the wall - English Only forum
<and> alongside nail salons - English Only forum
and two sticks of nail-rod tobacco - English Only forum
apply nail polish - English Only forum
as dead as door nail [doornail] - English Only forum
been bought off the nail - English Only forum
bit a nail in two - English Only forum
bite on the nail - English Only forum
Break a nail: the horseback archer - English Only forum
breaking a nail - English Only forum
Can I say “ nail the case" ? - English Only forum
could well, nail him - English Only forum
De Lima expects Kerwin Espinosa to nail her in drug trade. [pun?] - English Only forum
drive a nail - English Only forum
drive or hit or fix or run a nail into a wall - English Only forum
driving a nail into them - English Only forum
driving <over> a nail - English Only forum
Driving the nail further - English Only forum
dry finger skin around your nail - English Only forum
fence you nail your colours to - English Only forum
From the very nature of such fabrics, a thorn or nail becoming entangled in them, tears them rectangularly - English Only forum
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