nail it

verb

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see nail, it.

Meanings

verbnail it (third-person singular simple present nails it, present participle nailing it, simple past and past participle nailed it)

present singular third person nails it · participle present nailing it · participle past nailed it · past nailed it

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see nail, it.
  2. To succeed at a difficult task.

    If that's what writer Edwards had in mind however, she nails it.

    2016 June 7, ““One More Time”, a Walken Surprise”, in Aced Magazine
    2 more examples

    One girl decided to recreate the look for her prom and totally nailed it.

    2008 March 15, “Teen recreates iconic Kylie Jenner look for prom – and totally nails it.”, in Hello Magazine

    Needless to say, he nails it. His Deadpool strikes the perfect balance between acerbic smartass and comic doofus.

    2016 February 12, Raymond Maspons, “Film review: 'Deadpool' kicks ass, takes name”, in The Stanford Daily

Synonyms & antonyms

verbSynonym of hit the nail on the head.

Cite this entry
APA

nail it. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nail%20it

MLA

“nail it.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nail%20it. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nail it,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nail%20it.

Source: nail it on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.