nail into

nail (something) into (something)

1. To affix something into some surface with a nail or some similar fastener. I tried nailing the picture frame into the wall, but it was too heavy for the flimsy drywall to hold. I'm going to nail a sign into the tree out front so people know that our dog will bite them if they try to trespass on our property.
2. To secure something in the desired or correct position by driving a nail or some similar fastener through it and another surface. I was able to nail the plywood in place over the windows just as the hurricane started to touch down. I'm just nailing these beams into position before we finish up for the day.
See also: nail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

nail something into something

to drive a nail or something similar into something. She nailed the hanger into the wall to hold the picture up. Please nail in this tack.
See also: nail
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • nail (something) into (something)
  • nail (something) to (something else)
  • nail in
  • nail (something) onto (something else)
  • nail onto
  • nail up
  • nail on
  • pin (something) up on (something)
  • pin (something) up onto (something)
  • pin up on
References in classic literature
Aunt Maria would mildly observe that, next time Uncle Podger was going to hammer a nail into the wall, she hoped he'd let her know in time, so that she could make arrangements to go and spend a week with her mother while it was being done.
Here Kit drove a nail into the wall, very hard--much harder than was necessary--and having done so, faced about again.
A 43-year-old man was referred to the UUMC after he had accidentally fired a nail into his left cheek as he pointed a nail gun in the direction of his face.
The coworker slipped and accidentally fired a nail into the patient's left face at close range.
Although this can happen, by far the more common cause of ingrown toenail, and the pain that goes with it, is the curvature of the nail into the tissue on both the medial (inner) and the lateral (next to the other toes) sides of the nail.
Use two or three firm hammer taps to solidly embed the tip of the nail into the wood before swinging in earnest.