Antonyms for nailing down

Grammar : Verb

Spell : neyl

Phonetic Transcription : neɪl

Definition of nailing down

Origin : Old English negel "metal pin," nægl "fingernail (handnægl), toenail," from Proto-Germanic *naglaz (cf. Old Norse nagl "fingernail," nagli "metal nail;" Old Saxon and Old High German nagel, Old Frisian neil, Middle Dutch naghel, Dutch nagel, German Nagel "fingernail, small metal spike"), from PIE root *(o)nogh "nail" (cf. Greek onyx "claw, fingernail;" Latin unguis "nail, claw;" Old Church Slavonic noga "foot," noguti "nail, claw;" Lithuanian naga "hoof," nagutis "fingernail;" Old Irish ingen, Old Welsh eguin "nail, claw").
The "fingernail" sense seems to be the original one. Nail polish attested from 1891. To bite one's nails as a sign of anxiety is attested from 1570s. Nail-biting is from 1805. Hard as nails is from 1828. To hit the nail on the head "say or do just the right thing" is first recorded 1520s. Phrase on the nail "on the spot, exactly" is from 1590s, of obscure origin; OED says it is not even certain it belongs to this sense of nail.

As in memorize : verb remember
As in assure : verb make certain
As in recall : verb remember
As in remember : verb keep in mind; summon into mind
As in settle : verb straighten out, resolve
As in batten : verb fasten securely
As in transfix : verb pierce
As in infix : verb fix
As in circumscribe : verb mark off, delimit
As in pin on : verb fix
As in affirm : verb declare the truth of something
As in define : verb give description
As in determine : verb conclude, decide
As in ensure : verb guarantee; make secure
As in fix : verb establish, make firm

Example sentences :

Now they are laying my mother in the coffin; now they are nailing down the lid.
Extract from : « The Forest Farm » by Peter Rosegger

She then secured the house by nailing down the windows, &c., and taking the path across the fields, once more returned to Asselby.
Extract from : « Yorkshire Oddities, Incidents and Strange Events » by S. Baring-Gould

Le Bihan glanced up from the floor where he was nailing down the lid of a box full of cases.
Extract from : « The Mystery of Choice » by Robert William Chambers

Was it possible that they were nailing down the trap above our heads?
Extract from : « A Lady's Captivity among Chinese Pirates in the Chinese Seas » by Fanny Loviot

As I started to say, some time ago, Keg proved to be a positive genius in nailing down jobs.
Extract from : « At Good Old Siwash » by George Fitch

On the other side of the street, on the footpath, a packer in his shirt-sleeves was nailing down a trunk.
Extract from : « Sentimental Education, Volume II » by Gustave Flaubert

She would have been still more surprised to know that his wonderful memory was nailing down every word with machine-like accuracy.
Extract from : « Queed » by Henry Sydnor Harrison

The work had been quickly done and the carpenter was nailing down the lid of the coffin.
Extract from : « Corleone » by F. Marion Crawford

The object of the increased thickness at the gunwale is to stiffen the sides and give a better bearing for nailing down the deck.
Extract from : « Woodworking for Beginners » by Charles Gardner Wheeler

Some men were putting up beds, while others were hanging window-curtains and nailing down carpets.
Extract from : « The Bad Family and Other Stories » by Mrs. Fenwick

Synonyms for nailing down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019