nailing
word · lemma: nail
Definition
The act of putting a nail into something, often using a hammer. Informally, it also means doing something very well or succeeding perfectly.
Usage & Nuances
Literal: construction or carpentry. Figurative: common in informal speech ('nailing an exam' = doing excellently). Often used with 'it' ('nailing it'). Not used for manicures (that's 'getting your nails done').
Spanish: clavar - acertar (figurado)Portuguese (BR): pregando - acertando (sentido figurado)Portuguese (PT): pregando - acertando (sentido figurado)Chinese (Simplified): 钉（工具）- 做得很棒（比喻）Chinese (Traditional): 釘（工具）- 做得很棒（比喻）Hindi: कील ठोकना - जबरदस्त करना (मुहावरा)Arabic: تسمير - إتقان (مجازي)Bengali: পেরেক মারা - নিখুঁতভাবে করাRussian: забивание гвоздей - блестящее выполнениеJapanese: 釘打ち - 完璧にやることVietnamese: đóng đinh - làm rất tốtKorean: 못질하기 - 완벽하게 해내기Turkish: çivileme - mükemmel yapmakUrdu: کیل ٹھونکنا - کمال کرناIndonesian: memaku - melakukan dengan sangat baik
Example Sentences
He spent the afternoon nailing boards together to build a table.
basic
She is nailing the signs to the wall.
basic
You’re really nailing your English homework this week!
basic
Wow, you’re totally nailing that dance move!
natural
She’s been nailing her presentations at work lately.
natural
If you keep nailing it like this, you’ll get promoted in no time.
natural