Antonyms for pin down

Grammar : Noun, verb

Spell : pin

Phonetic Transcription : pɪn

Definition of pin down

Origin : late Old English pinn "peg, bolt," from Proto-Germanic *penn- "jutting point or peak" (cf. Old Saxon pin "peg," Old Norse pinni "peg, tack," Middle Dutch pin "pin, peg," Old High German pfinn, German Pinne "pin, tack") from Latin pinna "a feather, plume;" in plural "a wing;" also "fin, scoop of a water wheel;" also "a pinnacle; a promontory, cape; battlement" (e.g. in Luke iv:9 in Vulgate) and so applied to "points" of various sorts, from PIE *pet- (see pen (n.1)).
Latin pinna and penna "a feather, plume," in plural "a wing," are treated as identical in Watkins, etc., but regarded as separate (but confused) Latin words by Tucker and others, who derive pinna from PIE *spei- "sharp point" (cf. spike (n.1)) and see the "feather/wing" sense as secondary.
The modern slender wire pin is first attested by this name late 14c. Transferred sense of "leg" is recorded from 1520s and hold the older sense. Pin-money "annual sum allotted to a woman for personal expenses on dress, etc." is attested from 1620s. Pins and needles "tingling sensation" is from 1810. The sound of a pin dropping as a type of something all but silent is from 1775.

As in nail down : noun establish conclusively
As in indicate : verb signify, display
As in locate : verb find
As in name : verb choose, designate
As in point : verb show as probable; call attention
As in press : verb push on with force
As in restrict : verb confine, limit situation or ability to participate
As in select : verb pick out, prefer from among choices
As in specify : verb designate; decide definitely
As in stipulate : verb decide on conditions
As in transfix : verb pierce
As in bind : verb fasten, secure
As in particularize : verb stipulate
As in designate : verb specify as selection
As in determine : verb conclude, decide
As in finger : verb choose, designate
As in force : verb obligate to do something

Example sentences :

She resolved, if possible to pin down Phelim to his own proposal.
Extract from : « Phelim O'toole's Courtship and Other Stories » by William Carleton

But this youthful couple did not pin down their sensations to an artistic formula.
Extract from : « Painted Veils » by James Huneker

Joe tried to pin down the elusive quality it possessed and could not.
Extract from : « The Lost Wagon » by James Arthur Kjelgaard

By running the pin down into the sand all the way, you can make it look just like a goldpiece lying on the floor of the cave.
Extract from : « Us and the Bottleman » by Edith Ballinger Price

Extend the legs, pin down each foot and pin out the cut edges of the skin.
Extract from : « Elementary Zoology, Second Edition » by Vernon L. Kellogg

But she could not pin down what she wanted to think about; because, no doubt, there was so very much.
Extract from : « The Missourian » by Eugene P. (Eugene Percy) Lyle

He outlined the situation fully; maybe he shaded it a bit to throw suspicion on our group, but in no way we could pin down.
Extract from : « Let'em Breathe Space » by Lester del Rey

Then he would fly up to the roof and throw every pin down to the ground, as if he said, "Well, take your old clothespins!"
Extract from : « The Children's Book of Birds » by Olive Thorne Miller

Who could pin down a shadow to the ground, / And take its measure?
Extract from : « Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources » by James Wood

Mr. Sabin assumed the puzzled air of one endeavouring to pin down an elusive memory.
Extract from : « The Yellow Crayon » by E. Phillips Oppenheim

Synonyms for pin down

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