ENENENEN
FR
ES
RU
IT
TR
UKin the nick of time
/ɪnðə nˈɪk ɒv tˈaɪm/
/ɪnðə nˈɪk ʌv tˈaɪm/in the nick of time
[PHRASE]1
only a few moments before it is still possible to get something done or avoid something bad from happening
synonyms : just in time
What is the origin of the idiom "in the nick of time" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "in the nick of time" can be traced back to the 16th century. The phrase originally referred to a precise moment or point marked by a nick, representing the exact timing necessary to achieve a desired outcome. Over time, it became a widely used idiom to describe a situation where something happens or is completed at the last possible moment, just in time to avoid a negative consequence or seize a favorable opportunity.
Examples
1. Thanks to your problem-solving skills, your team gets Schrödinger’s cats out of the box in the nick of time.
2. As you step on the far side of the gorge, you cut the ropes and collapse the bridge behind you, just in the nick of time.
3. These hormones could spur an additional ovulation, and even make the cervical mucus plug porous enough for sperm to get through and fertilize the egg, just in the nick of time to implant.
4. We got there just in the nick of time.
more