nail
nail — noun
1. a thin metal rod with a sharp tip and a flat top; people drive it into wood or o
a thin metal rod with a sharp tip and a flat top; people drive it into wood or other material using a hammer to fasten parts together or keep things in place.
Hamza used a hammer to drive the long nail into the wooden beam.
'drive a nail' collocation for hammering in
The old fence had rusty nails sticking out from the wood.
Lisa pulled the bent nail out with the claw end of her hammer.
A single nail in the wall held up the heavy kitchen clock.
文法句型
drive/hammer a nail
pull out a nail
用法筆記
Common verb partners include 'drive', 'hammer', 'pull out'. The head of a nail is the flat end you strike; the point is the end you push into the material.
常見錯誤
2. a thin, hard surface that covers the end parts of human fingers and toes.
a thin, hard surface that covers the end parts of human fingers and toes.
Renata painted her nails bright red for the wedding ceremony.
'paint your nails' common phrase for applying colour
Jude trimmed his nails short before starting guitar lessons.
The doctor checked Tamar's fingernails for signs of infection.
Biting your nails can damage the skin and make your fingertips sore.
- fingernail
specifically a nail on a finger, not a toe
- toenail
specifically a nail on a toe, thicker and slower-growing than a fingernail
- claw
a curved, pointed nail on an animal such as a cat or bird
文法句型
cut/trim your nails
paint your nails
用法筆記
Often used in the plural ('nails') when referring generally. Common verbs: 'cut', 'trim', 'file', 'paint', 'bite'. 'Fingernail' and 'toenail' are more specific compounds.
常見錯誤
nail — verb
1. to attach or fix one thing to another by hitting a nail through it with a hammer
to attach or fix one thing to another by hitting a nail through it with a hammer.
Sahil nailed a wooden board across the broken kitchen window.
'nail + across/onto [surface]' preposition pattern
The carpenter nailed the floorboards down before the family moved in.
A metal sign was nailed to the wooden gatepost at the entrance.
Kevin nailed the shelf brackets into the wall with four long nails.
- hammer
focuses on the striking action rather than the fastening result; 'hammer the nail in' vs 'nail the board on'
文法句型
nail + object + preposition + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often requires a prepositional phrase showing position ('onto', 'to', 'across', 'down'). The object is usually the item being fastened, not the nail itself.
常見錯誤
2. to catch a person in the middle of a wrongful act and present proof that they ar
to catch a person in the middle of a wrongful act and present proof that they are responsible for it.
The detective finally nailed the burglar with DNA evidence from the scene.
'nail + with [evidence]' pattern for proving guilt
Élise got nailed for copying answers during the final chemistry exam.
'get nailed for [offence]' passive construction
Security cameras nailed the shoplifter leaving the store with stolen goods.
The newspaper investigation nailed the factory for dumping waste into the river.
文法句型
nail + someone + for + noun/gerund
get nailed + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Often used with 'for' to state the wrongdoing ('nailed for cheating'). The passive form 'get nailed' is very common in everyday speech. More formal alternatives: 'caught', 'convicted', 'exposed'.
3. to do something with complete success and skill, so that the result is exactly r
to do something with complete success and skill, so that the result is exactly right.
Asher nailed his guitar solo during the school talent show.
'nail + [performance/achievement]' informal success pattern
Wei studied every evening for a month and nailed the final chemistry exam.
The comedian nailed every punchline and had the audience laughing all night.
Quan nailed his job interview and received a job offer the same afternoon.
- ace
mainly used for tests and exams; slightly narrower than 'nail'
- crush
slang, emphasizes defeating or dominating the challenge
- succeed
neutral/formal register; does not carry the 'perfect result' implication
- perfect
as a verb, it means to make something flawless through practice, rather than succeed on the first attempt
文法句型
nail + object
nail it (no object)
用法筆記
Very common in informal spoken English. The fixed phrase 'nail it' (without an object) is frequently used as an exclamation of success. In formal writing, use 'succeed', 'achieve', or 'perform perfectly' instead.
常見錯誤
4. to strike a person or thing very hard, whether on purpose or by accident.
to strike a person or thing very hard, whether on purpose or by accident.
The boxer nailed his opponent with a powerful right hook to the jaw.
A loose baseball nailed Joaquín on the shoulder during warm-up practice.
'nail someone on [body part]' pattern for hit location
Wei accidentally nailed his thumb with the hammer while fixing the shelf.
The heavy gate swung open and nailed Maja in the ribs as she walked past.
- tap
to hit gently and lightly, the opposite of striking with force
文法句型
nail + someone + preposition + body part/noun
用法筆記
Informal and physical. Can describe accidental or intentional hits. The prepositional phrase after the object usually names the body part struck ('on the shoulder', 'in the ribs'). Not used for gentle or light contact.