one nail drives out another
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
New people, things, or customs eventually supplant older ones.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “one nail drives out another” mean?
New people, things, or customs eventually supplant older ones.
Is “one nail drives out another” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.