pin down

pin down
verb
1. define clearly (Freq. 1)
-

I cannot narrow down the rules for this game

Syn: ↑peg down, ↑nail down, ↑narrow down, ↑narrow, ↑specify
Derivationally related forms: ↑specifier (for: ↑specify)
Hypernyms: ↑determine
Hyponyms: ↑concretize
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something PP

2. place in a confining or embarrassing position
-

He was trapped in a difficult situation

Syn: ↑trap
Derivationally related forms: ↑trap (for: ↑trap)
Hypernyms: ↑confine, ↑detain
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

Something ——s somebody

-

Something ——s something

3. attach with or as if with a pin
-

pin up a picture

Syn: ↑pin up
Hypernyms: ↑attach
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s somebody PP

-

Somebody ——s something PP

* * *

pin down [phrasal verb]
1 pin (someone) down : to cause or force (someone) to make a definite statement or decision about something

Reporters tried to pin him down on the specific changes he wants to make to the tax laws.

He talked in a general way, but they couldn't pin him down to specifics.

2 pin down (something) or pin (something) down : to find out (something) with certainty

Can you pin down when the change occurred?

I'm trying to pin down [=identify] the source of the problem.

• • •
Main Entry:pin

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • pin down — (something) to discover the facts or exact details about something. The fire department is trying to pin down the cause of Wednesday s fire. So far we haven t pinned down a date …   New idioms dictionary

  • pin down — index restrict Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • pin down — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you try to pin something down, you try to discover exactly what, where, or when it is. [V P n (not pron)] It has taken until now to pin down its exact location... [V n P to n] I can only pin it down to between 1936 and 1942...… …   English dictionary

  • pin down — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms pin down : present tense I/you/we/they pin down he/she/it pins down present participle pinning down past tense pinned down past participle pinned down 1) to understand or describe something exactly Officials… …   English dictionary

  • pin down — {v.} 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a place or position; trap. * /Mr. Jones leg was pinned down under the car after the accident./ * /The soldier was pinned down in the hole because rifle bullets were flying over his head./ 1b.… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pin down — {v.} 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a place or position; trap. * /Mr. Jones leg was pinned down under the car after the accident./ * /The soldier was pinned down in the hole because rifle bullets were flying over his head./ 1b.… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pin\ down — v 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a place or position; trap. Mr. Jones leg was pinned down under the car after the accident. The soldier was pinned down in the hole because rifle bullets were flying over his head. 1b. To keep… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • pin down — 1) our troops can pin down the enemy Syn: confine, trap, hem in, corner, close in, shut in, hedge in, pen in, restrain, entangle, enmesh, immobilize 2) she tried to pin him down to a plan Syn …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • pin down — verb a) to attach or secure with pins Pin down the tablecloth, so it doesnt blow away in the breeze. b) to identify something (e.g. a decision or plan) clearly or specifically Something is wrong, but I can …   Wiktionary

  • pin down (someone) — 1. to keep someone from being able to escape by shooting at them. For a time, the crew was pinned down by machine gun fire. 2. to get specific information from someone. It is not easy to pin down a politician who won t even tell you if it s… …   New idioms dictionary

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