Antonyms for nails down

Grammar : Verb

Spell : neyl

Phonetic Transcription : neɪl

Definition of nails 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 :

Also one should trim one's nails down as close as comfort will allow.
Extract from : « The Book of Camp-Lore and Woodcraft » by Dan Beard

At intervals he would gnaw his nails down to the quick while snorts of bridled fury escaped through his pallid lips.
Extract from : « "Unto Caesar" » by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

I bit my nails down to the quick till I had an idea—sitting out on this very coast.
Extract from : « King of the Castle » by George Manville Fenn

It took him most of the evening to fasten on pieces of leather with nails, and to knock the nails down.
Extract from : « Glimpses into the Abyss » by Mary Higgs

Synonyms for nails down

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