nail

▪ I. nail nail ¹ [neɪl] verb [transitive]

informal to catch someone and prove that they are guilty of a crime or of doing something bad:

• The government spent vast resources in an unsuccessful effort to nail him on felony charges.

nail down phrasal verb [transitive]

1. nail somebody down informal to force someone to say exactly what they want or what they intend to do:

nail down nail somebody down to something

• Before they repair the car, nail them down to a price.

2. nail something → down JOURNALISM to reach a final and definite decision about something:

• The US wants to nail down an agreement on anti-subsidy rules.

3. nail something → down JOURNALISM to make certain that you will get something:

• The prospect of a shortage has U.S. companies rushing to nail down long-term supplies of critical parts.

• He sold the shares just because he thought it prudent to nail down a profit.

  [m0] ▪ II. nail nail ² noun

on the nail informal if you pay for something on the nail, you pay for it immediately:

• Not paying on the nail could be extremely expensive.

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Ⅰ.

nail UK US /neɪl/ verb [T] INFORMAL

► to prove that someone is guilty of doing something: »

Identifying and nailing insider dealers in the credit markets is a difficult task.

► to do something successfully: »

He nailed the interview and was offered the job right there.

Ⅱ.

nail UK US /neɪl/ noun

● on the nail — Cf. on the nail