0 present participle of nail
1 to fasten something with nails:
2 to catch someone, especially when they are doing something wrong, or to make it clear that they are guilty:
3 to do something successfully:
Priests had been nailing theses to church doors for centuries, listing their complaints with church doctrine or practice.
Let me begin by nailing my colours to the mast.
The abolition of nailing someone's ear to the pillory had taken place rather earlier.
It is essential that we avoid nailing unrealistic targets to the mast.
A more deliberate, calculated and persistent policy of nailing pensioners down to the floor of inflation could scarcely be devised.
Yes, in one sense they have, but we are nailing it down for the first time.
I do not know whether we shall now see the nailing of such aid to the mast.
However, there are three separate factors that cause me to hesitate before nailing my colours to that particular mast.
