in the nick
The phrase "in the nick" is often used in idiomatic expressions and British slang, with meanings ranging from timely actions to being incarcerated.
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Definition
B2General
(idiom)At the last possible moment, often preventing something negative.
Example
- He arrived in the nick to stop the argument from escalating.
- She finished her assignment in the nick, just before the deadline.
C1British
(slang)Being in prison or jail.
Example
- He spent a few years in the nick for robbery.
- They caught him and put him in the nick.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "in the nick":
nick offnip atnip and tucknickel and dimenickel bagunder the wire