drive a nail where it will go

present singular third person drives a nail where it will go · participle present driving a nail where it will go · past drove a nail where it would go · participle past driven a nail where it would go

1. archaicTo take a pragmatic or expedient approach, rather than the ideal.

   1 more example

   "Well, I think East is right," said Arthur; "I can't see but what it's right to do the best you can, though it mayn't be the best absolutely. Every man isn't born to be a martyr." "Of course, of course," said East; "but he's on one of his pet hobbies. — How often have I told you, Tom, that you must drive a nail where it'll go."

   1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days