nail
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
To catch.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I pray you now send me some dub, / A bottle or two to the needy. / I beg you won't bring it yourself, / The harman is at the Old-Bailey; / I'd rather you'd send it behalf, / For, if they twig you they'll nail you.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “nail” mean?
To catch.
Is “nail” formal or informal?
nail is generally slang.