1
general::
nail sb down
informal
to make someone give you exact details or a firm decision about something
• They nailed him down to a specific time and place., nail sth down
[ M ] DECISION
1. informal If you nail down an arrangement or decision, you fix and agree to the details of it
• After a five-hour meeting, we finally nailed down a deal., nail sth down
[ M ] UNDERSTAND
2. US informal to understand something completely, or to describe something correctly
• We haven't been able to nail down the cause of the fire yet.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
nail
adjectives
long
• Her long nails were painted a pearly pink.
short
• Her nails were short and uneven.
dirty
• How did you get such dirty nails?
clean
• His nails were neat and clean.
finger nail
( also fingernail )
• She had small hands with polished finger nails.
toe nail
( also toenail )
• His toenails were long and dirty.
verbs
cut your nails
• You should cut your nails more often!
trim your nails
(= cut a small amount off )
• His nails were neatly trimmed.
file your nails
• A girl was filing her nails on the bus.
bite your nails
• Eddie bit his nails nervously.
paint/polish/varnish your nails
(= to put coloured liquid on your nails )
• Don't paint short nails in dark colours.
manicure your nails
(= to make your nails look attractive by cutting them and making the skin around them neat )
• She had manicured nails and expensive clothes.
do your nails
informal (= to cut or paint your nails )
• She sat at her desk, doing her nails.
break a nail
(= to accidentally damage a nail on one of your fingers )
• Oh, no, I've broken a nail.
transnet.ir
3
general::
noun on the fingers/toes ADJ. long | short | sharp | healthy, strong | brittle | broken | manicured, well-kept | painted, polished (See also fingernail and toenail.) VERB + NAIL bite, chew | do, manicure Do your nails after your bath as they will be softer. | scrub | clip, cut, trim | file | paint, polish, varnish | dig He screamed as she dug her nails into his shoulders. NAIL + VERB break, split | bite/dig into sth NAIL + NOUN brush | clippers, scissors | file | polish, varnish PREP. under your ~ There was dirt under his nails. piece of metal ADJ. long | small | six-inch, etc. | loose | protruding | bent | rusty | brass, iron, etc. | masonry, upholstery, wood VERB + NAIL drive (in), hammer (in), knock (in) | pull out, remove NAIL + NOUN head | hole | bomb
Oxford Collocations Dictionary