NAIL DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nail down mean? 

• NAIL DOWN (verb)
  The verb NAIL DOWN has 3 senses:

1. succeed in obtaining a position

2. define clearly

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

  Familiarity information: NAIL DOWN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NAIL DOWN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Succeed in obtaining a position

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

nail; nail down; peg

Context example:

He nailed down a spot at Harvard

Hypernyms (to "nail down" is one way to...):

bring home the bacon; come through; deliver the goods; succeed; win (attain success or reach a desired goal)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Define clearly

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

nail down; narrow; narrow down; peg down; pin down; specify

Context example:

I cannot narrow down the rules for this game

Hypernyms (to "nail down" is one way to...):

determine (fix in scope; fix the boundaries of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "nail down"):

concretize (make something concrete)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make final; put the last touches on; put into final form

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

finalise; finalize; nail down; settle

Context example:

let's finalize the proposal

Hypernyms (to "nail down" is one way to...):

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

You may want to be extra careful to nail down all the details before you go public with your venture.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)