nick
Razor's tiny wound
A nick is a small cut or notch on a surface or edge: The blade has a nick in it.
To nick something is to make such a cut, often accidentally: I nicked myself shaving.
In British slang, to nick means to steal or to arrest: Someone nicked my wallet, He got nicked for shoplifting.
The phrase in the nick of time means at the last possible moment. (Capitalized Nick is a given name.)
Squeeze with fingertips
Detention facility
- prisonConfinement for offenders
- custodyProtective care or control
- detentionTemporary official holding
- lockupTemporary detention facility
remand · collar · bust · pinch · nab · apprehension · cell · confinement
Brief period of time
- instantBriefest unit of time
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- split-secondFraction of a moment
- last-minuteJust before deadline
close call · narrow escape · just in time · brink · edge · hairsbreadth · precision · clutch
scratch
Superficial wound or mark
chip · graze · score · gash · dent · mar · scuff · abrasion · groove · indent
pinch
Squeeze with fingertips
filch · purloin · lift · pocket · thieve · snag · nab · take · grab · boost
jail
Detention facility
lockup · remand · collar · bust · pinch · nab · apprehension · cell · confinement · slammer
moment
Brief period of time
- instantBriefest unit of time
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- split-secondFraction of a moment
last-minute · close call · narrow escape · just in time · brink · edge · hairsbreadth · precision · clutch · squeaker
shape
External outline of something
nicksmoothness
Freedom from irregularity
perfection · unblemished · intact · flawless · gash
- nick of timeThe final possible moment
- in the nick of timeAt the final moment
- nickel and dimeDrain through small amounts
- nickel and dimedCharged many small fees
- nickel and dimingAccumulating small charges
- wooden nickelValueless commemorative token
nickname, nickel, nicked, nickels, nicknames, nicks, nicknamed, nicking, nicknaming