| 释义 |
nail /neɪl/► SEE ALLnail your colours to the masta nail in sb’s/sth’s coffinnail sb to the wallon the nailfight tooth and nail (for sb/sth/to do sth)hit the nail on the head
●nail your colours to the ˈmast (especially BrE) show clearly which side you support 明确宣布自己的观点；公开表态◆It’s time to nail our colours to the mast and condemn this dreadful policy.
是公开表明我们的立场、谴责这项糟糕的政策的时候了。 OPP sit on the fence ORIGIN In this expression, colours are flags. In a battle at sea, a ship would nail its colours to the mast to show its intention to continue fighting and not surrender. 这个表达法中的 colours 意为“旗帜”。海战中，船只把旗帜钉在桅杆上表示将继续战斗，不投降。●a nail in sb’s/sth’s ˈcoffinsomething, especially one of a series of things, which makes the failure or destruction of sth more likely 促成失败之物；导致某事终结之物◆If we don’t succeed with this campaign, it’ll be the final nail in our coffin.
如果这次运动我们不成功，就会彻底完蛋。◆The new tax has driven another nail into the coffin of the British film industry.
新税使不景气的英国电影业雪上加霜。●nail sb to the ˈwall (informal) punish sb and/or make them suffer because you are very angry with them 狠狠教训某人；严惩某人◆I’m going to nail him to the wall for what he’s done!
他做得太过分了，我要狠狠惩罚他！●on the ˈnail (informal) (of payment 付款) without delay 立刻；马上◆They’re good customers who always pay on the nail.
他们是好主顾，付账从不拖延。●fight ˌtooth and ˈnail (for sb/sth/to do sth)fight in a very determined way for what you want 拼命抗争；奋力作战◆We fought the government tooth and nail to prevent the new road being built.我们为了阻止修建那条新路而和政府全力斗争。◆She’s prepared to fight tooth and nail to get the job.她准备为得到那个工作全力以赴。●hit the nail on the ˈhead (informal) say sth that is exactly right 说到点子上；正中要害◆‘So you want to move to another department.’ ‘You’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s exactly what I want.’“这么说你想调到另一个部门去。”“一点不错，这正是我所想的。” OPP be/fall wide of the mark |