1.nail作动词的意思是“用钉子把物体钉住,钉牢”,引申可作“抓住,逮住”解,是及物动词,接名词或代词作宾语。
2.nail常在宾语后接down,作“迫使某人明确表态; 强迫某人明确说出意图或心愿”解,是一种比较正式的用法。

nail back(v.+adv.)
用钉子把(某物)反钉住 fasten (sth) in a backward position with a nail or nails
▲nail sth ⇔ back
If you want the cupboard door open all the time, why don't you nail it back?如果你想让柜子门总开着,为什么不用钉子把门反钉住?

nail down(v.+adv.)
1.用钉子钉住(某物) fasten (sth) down with a nail or nails
▲nail sth ⇔ down
Will you nail down that loose board in the floor?请把那块松动的地板钉牢好吗?
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
I can't get this lid off, it seems to be nailed down.我打不开这个盖子,好像是被钉住了。
2.迫使(某人)作出决定,讲明意图或采取行动 force (sb) to make a decision, state his intentions, or take action, etc.
〔说明〕 nail down作此解时通常不用于进行体。
▲nail sb ⇔ down to sth
We shall have to nail him down to his promise.我们将不得不迫使他履行自己的诺言。
I never nail her down to anything.我不想让她明白地说出她打算做的任何事。
We've been trying to nail him down to a precise agreement.我们一直想让他说出他的确切协议。
Before they repair the car, nail them down to a price.在他们修理这辆汽车之前,要他们把价钱讲明白。

nail onto〔to〕(v.+prep.)
用钉子将(某物)钉在(某物)上 fasten (sth) on with a nail or nails
▲nail sb/sth onto〔to〕 sth
Nail the boards onto the fence posts, they will make a good fence.把这些木板钉在立柱上,这样围墙就牢固了。
Nail the sign to the post.把招牌钉在柱子上。
Surprise nailed him to the spot.惊愕使他呆立不动。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
The letter was nailed to the wall with an arrow.一支箭把信钉在了墙上。

nail up(v.+adv.)
▲nail sth ⇔ up
1.将(某物)钉在高处或钉在公共场合 fasten (sth) on high or in public view with a nail or nails
◇ 常用于be ～ed结构
A notice was nailed up on the church door.教堂门上钉着一块告示。
2.将(某物)钉牢,钉紧 fasten (sth) in a closed position with nails
We nailed up the windows of the old house.我们把这座旧房子的窗户全钉死了。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
The windows had been boarded and nailed up to prevent thieves from entering the empty house.窗户上钉上了木板,以防小偷进入这所空房。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
He nailed boards together to make a box.他把几块木板钉在一起做了一个箱子。
He nailed a rabbit with his first shot.他第一枪就打死了一只兔子。
They finally nailed the thief.他们最终抓住了小偷。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
The boy was nailed by the toy.那个孩子被一个玩具吸引住了。

［同义词］ v.  fasten, fix
［词源］  ＜古英语nægl ＜拉丁语unguis(指甲,爪)

1.nail作名词的基本意思是“钉子”,指由金属制成的细棍形的物件,一端有扁平的头,另一端尖锐,主要起固定悬挂物作用。
2.nail还可作“指甲”解,包括手指甲和脚趾甲。

a nail in sb's/sth's coffin
使某人早亡〔死、完蛋、垮台等〕 one of several cumulative mistakes that contributes to sb's downfall
The long and costly strike proved to be the last nail in the company's coffin.长期的且代价高的罢工证明可使公司一蹶不振。
I missed the deadline again last week; I suppose that's another nail in my coffin.上星期我又误了最后期限,我想那又是一个促使我早完蛋的错误。

fight tooth and nail
激烈争斗 fight fiercely
She said she was going to fight tooth and nail to keep this house for her daughters.她说她要为女儿们竭尽全力地保住这栋房子。
They were fighting tooth and nail.他们猛烈地厮打着。
The twins fight tooth and nail over the slightest disagreement.这对双胞胎为了一点儿小矛盾而吵得不可开交。

hit the nail on the head
说得中肯; 击中要害 do exactly the right thing; do sth in the most effective and efficient way
Well said!You've hit the nail on the head.说得好!你说到点子上了。
Every word he said hit the nail on the head.他说的话句句都很中肯。

The nail caught her dress.钉子钩住了她的衣服。
The picture is attached to the wall by a nail.这张图画被钉子钉在墙上。
In order to hang the picture, he had to hammer a nail.为了挂画,他必须钉根钉子。
We had to fasten the notice to the door with a nail.我们必须用钉子把通知钉到门上。
The carpenter will drive every nail home before he pronounces the work finished.木匠要把每根钉子钉好了才会说工作做完了。
I would have been early enough, but I caught my coat on a nail just as I was leaving.我本来会早来,没想到我正要离开时,外套被钉子钩住了。
Magnets attract nails.磁铁吸引铁钉。
Help me to hammer in these last few nails,I'm tired!帮我把最后这几个钉子钉上,我太累了。
He took some nails and bits of wood, and built them into a rough cupboard.他拿了钉子和木头,做了一只粗糙的食品橱。
Do not throw these nails away, they may come in use one day.不要把这些钩子扔了,也许有一天能用着它们。
The tail won't come off the toy plane, it's fixed on with nails.玩具飞机的机尾掉不下来,它是用钉子钉住的。
Their fists were clenched so tightly that their nails dug deep into their palms.他们紧握着拳头,指甲深深地捏进了手心。
We must break the child of his habit of biting his nails.我们必须使这个孩子改掉咬指甲的习惯。
She cleans her nails with a nailbrush every week.她每星期用指甲刷把自己的指甲弄干净。