nail down

nail down
verb
1. succeed in obtaining a position (Freq. 1)
-

He nailed down a spot at Harvard

Syn: ↑nail, ↑peg
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

2. define clearly
-

I cannot narrow down the rules for this game

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

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something PP

3. make final; put the last touches on; put into final form
-

let's finalize the proposal

Syn: ↑finalize, ↑finalise, ↑settle
See Also: ↑settle on (for: ↑settle)
Derivationally related forms: ↑finalisation (for: ↑finalise), ↑finalization (for: ↑finalize)
Hypernyms: ↑end, ↑terminate
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

* * *

nail down [phrasal verb]
nail (something) down or nail down (something)
1 : to make (something, such as a victory) certain to happen

They need to score another touchdown to nail down the victory.

2 : to find out or identify (something) exactly

Her doctors haven't yet been able to nail down a diagnosis.

They're trying to nail down the cause of our network problems.

3 : to make (something) definite or final

nail down a decision

• • •
Main Entry:nail

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • nail down — nail (something) down to make something certain or final. My uncle has been meeting people all over the state to nail down support for his senate campaign …   New idioms dictionary

  • nail down — 1) PHRASAL VERB If you nail down something unknown or uncertain, you find out exactly what it is. [V P n (not pron)] It would be useful if you could nail down the source of this tension. [Also V n P] Syn: pin down 2) PHRASAL VERB If you nail down …   English dictionary

  • nail down — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms nail down : present tense I/you/we/they nail down he/she/it nails down present participle nailing down past tense nailed down past participle nailed down 1) informal to definitely decide, arrange, or complete… …   English dictionary

  • nail down — verb a) to attach with nails Nail down the shelf, then paint it. b) to make something (e.g. a decision or plan) firm or certain They havent nailed down their vacation plans yet …   Wiktionary

  • nail down — get a clear answer, find out, pin down    I ve checked the books, but I can t nail down the reason for the loss. I can t find the error …   English idioms

  • nail down — make certain, make sure I am trying to nail down the exact time that he will be able to meet with us …   Idioms and examples

  • nail down — {v. phr.}, {informal} To make certain; make sure; settle. * /Joe had a hard time selling his car, but he finally nailed the sale down when he got his friend Sam to give him $300./ * /The New York Yankees nailed down the American League… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • nail down — {v. phr.}, {informal} To make certain; make sure; settle. * /Joe had a hard time selling his car, but he finally nailed the sale down when he got his friend Sam to give him $300./ * /The New York Yankees nailed down the American League… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • nail\ down — v. phr. informal To make certain; make sure; settle. Joe had a hard time selling his car, but he finally nailed the sale down when he got his friend Sam to give him $300. The New York Yankees nailed down the American League Championship when they …   Словарь американских идиом

  • nail down — Synonyms and related words: afford proof of, ascertain, assure, balance, ballast, bring home to, certify, cinch, clear up, clinch, counterbalance, decide, demonstrate, determine, dismiss all doubt, ensure, establish, find out, firm, firm up, fix …   Moby Thesaurus

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