Isla Bennett
Nailed it is an expression used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something. The phrase is often used sarcastically to refer to efforts that have comically failed. The slang term dates back to at least the 1970s, according to Green's Dictionary of Slang, and is related to the idiom hitting the nail on the head.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning | To have done something successfully, skillfully, or cleverly |
| Usage | Affirmative, often sarcastic |
| Origin | Dates back to at least the 1970s, according to Green's Dictionary of Slang. The Roman poet Horace used a similar phrase in Latin |
| Related phrases | Hitting the nail on the head, driving a nail through someone's coffin, nailing something down |
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What You'll Learn
- 'Nailed it' is used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something
- The phrase is often used sarcastically in reference to efforts that comically failed
- The Roman poet Horace used a phrase that roughly translates to 'nailed it', meaning to have done something immaculately
- 'Nailed it' is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', meaning you've said or done the exact right thing
- 'Nailing something down' means making something fixed and certain
'Nailed it' is used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something
'Nailed it' is an expression used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something. It is often used sarcastically in reference to efforts that comically failed.
The phrase is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', which means to have said or done the exact right thing. The real-world sense behind 'nailed it' is that, in order to successfully drive a nail into a surface, it is not enough to simply hit the nailhead – you must hit it just right so that the nail goes in straight.
The phrase has been used by different professionals in different ways depending on the 'nail' in question. For example, a carpenter might say 'nailed it' to mean that a piece of wooden craftsmanship had all its nails hammered in their proper place.
The phrase dates back to at least the 1970s, according to Green's Dictionary of Slang, but the Roman poet Horace used a phrase in Latin that roughly equates to our modern concept of 'nailed it'.
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The phrase is often used sarcastically in reference to efforts that comically failed
The phrase 'nailed it' is used to comment on the successful, skillful or clever completion or performance of something. It is often used sarcastically to refer to efforts that have comically failed.
The phrase is slang, dating back to at least the 1970s, and is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', which means to have said or done the exact right thing. The real-world sense behind 'nailed it' is that, in order to successfully drive a nail into a surface, it's not enough to simply hit the nailhead – you must hit it just right so that the nail goes in straight.
Different professionals think of the phrase differently depending on the 'nail' in question. For a carpenter, 'nailed it' might mean that a piece of wooden craftsmanship has all its nails hammered in their proper place.
The Roman poet Horace, who wrote in Latin, used a phrase that roughly equals our concept of the term 'nailed it', meaning to have done something immaculately.
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The Roman poet Horace used a phrase that roughly translates to 'nailed it', meaning to have done something immaculately
'Nailed it' is an expression used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something. It is often used sarcastically in reference to efforts that comically failed. The phrase is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', meaning to have said or done the exact right thing.
The Roman poet Horace, who wrote in Latin, used a phrase that roughly translates to 'nailed it', meaning to have done something immaculately. Horace is not necessarily credited as having coined the phrase, but his wide audience quickly took it up and incorporated it into the vernacular. As civilisations developed and the range of careers and occupations began to diversify, the phrase took on new meanings in a variety of contexts. For example, a carpenter might say 'nailed it' to mean that a piece of wooden craftsmanship had all its nails hammered in their proper place.
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'Nailed it' is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', meaning you've said or done the exact right thing
The phrase 'nailed it' is an expression used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something. It is often used sarcastically in reference to efforts that comically failed. The phrase is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', which means you've said or done the exact right thing.
The phrase 'nailed it' is thought to have originated with the Roman poet Horace, who wrote in Latin. Horace is not necessarily credited as having coined the phrase, but his wide audience quickly took it up and incorporated it into the vernacular. As civilisations developed and the range of careers and occupations began to diversify, the phrase took on new meanings in a variety of contexts. For example, a carpenter might say 'nailed it' to mean that a piece of wooden craftsmanship had all its nails hammered in their proper place.
The phrase 'nailed it' is slang that dates back to at least the 1970s, according to Green's Dictionary of Slang. In order to successfully drive a nail into a surface, it's not enough to simply hit the nailhead—you must hit it just right so that the nail goes in straight. That's the real-world sense behind 'nailed it'.
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'Nailing something down' means making something fixed and certain
Nailing something down means making something fixed and certain. The phrase 'nailed it' is an expression used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something. It is often used sarcastically in reference to efforts that comically failed. The phrase dates back to at least the 1970s, according to Green's Dictionary of Slang.
The phrase is related to the idiom 'hitting the nail on the head', which means you've said or done the exact right thing. The Roman poet Horace, who wrote in Latin, used a phrase that roughly translates to our modern concept of 'nailed it', meaning to have done something immaculately.
Different professionals think of the phrase differently depending on the 'nail' in question. For a carpenter, 'nailed it' might mean that a piece of wooden craftsmanship has all its nails hammered in their proper place.
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Frequently asked questions
'Nailed it' is an expression used to comment on the successful, skillful, or clever completion or performance of something. It can also be used sarcastically to refer to a comically failed attempt.
The phrase can be traced back to the Roman poet Horace, who wrote in Latin. Horace used a phrase that roughly translates to our modern-day 'nailed it', meaning to have done something immaculately.
'Nailed it' is often used to congratulate someone on a job well done, for example, "Wow, you really nailed that debate last night!".
Two other expressions are 'driving a nail through someone's coffin' and 'nailing something down'. The former refers to marking the end of something, either literally or metaphorically, while the latter means to make something fixed and certain.
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