nick
/nɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /nɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnik/ (ame, mw)
nick — noun
1. a very small mark or shallow wound on the surface or edge of something, often ma
a very small mark or shallow wound on the surface or edge of something, often made by accident with a sharp object
Amira noticed a small <hl>nick</hl> on the edge of her favourite ceramic bowl after washing it.
nick on the edge of [object]
The carpenter sanded down the <hl>nick</hl> in the wooden table before applying a fresh coat of varnish.
sanded down a nick in [surface]
Noor found a tiny <hl>nick</hl> on the new phone screen and felt a bit frustrated.
There was a visible <hl>nick</hl> on the blade where it had hit a metal screw.
文法句型
a nick in [surface]
用法筆記
A nick is smaller and shallower than a cut or wound. It usually does not bleed much and does not require medical attention.
常見錯誤
2. a place where criminals are held or questioned by the police, used in informal B
a place where criminals are held or questioned by the police, used in informal British English
Otis spent three years in the <hl>nick</hl> for his part in the robbery.
in the nick (prison)
The police took the suspect down to the <hl>local nick</hl> for questioning.
local nick (police station)
Niran had been in and out of the <hl>nick</hl> since he was eighteen years old.
Darius knew that if he got caught again, he would be back in the <hl>nick</hl> within a week.
文法句型
in the nick
the nick
用法筆記
Always preceded by 'the'. Not used in American English. 'Nick' as a police station is more common in older British usage; younger speakers tend to use 'the nick' primarily for prison.
常見錯誤
3. the physical state or quality of something or someone, especially how good or ba
the physical state or quality of something or someone, especially how good or bad their health, fitness, or repair is
Despite being twenty years old, Eli's car was still in <hl>excellent nick</hl>.
in excellent nick (condition)
Gita trains every morning to keep herself in <hl>good nick</hl> for the marathon.
in good nick (fitness)
The old house was in <hl>terrible nick</hl> when Anjali bought it.
The boxer had to get his fitness into <hl>top nick</hl> before the championship fight.
文法句型
in [adjective] nick
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed pattern 'in + adjective + nick'. Common adjectives: good, bad, excellent, terrible, great, poor, top. Can describe both objects (cars, houses, machines) and living things (people, animals, plants).
常見錯誤
nick — verb
1. to take something that belongs to someone else, especially something small or no
to take something that belongs to someone else, especially something small or not extremely valuable, without asking permission
Someone <hl>nicked</hl> Zayd's bicycle from outside the library while he was studying.
nicked [possession] from [place]
The shopkeeper caught a teenager trying to <hl>nick</hl> a chocolate bar from the shelf.
Esteban realised someone had <hl>nicked</hl> his wallet during the crowded bus ride.
Quan <hl>nicked</hl> an old coat from the lost-and-found box at school.
文法句型
nick [something] from [somewhere/someone]
用法筆記
Typically used for small-scale theft of low-value items. For serious crimes like stealing a car or robbing a bank, 'steal' is more appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. Often used in the passive to avoid naming the thief: 'My phone got nicked.'
常見錯誤
2. when police catch someone they believe has committed a crime and take them into
when police catch someone they believe has committed a crime and take them into their control
The police <hl>nicked</hl> Christopher as he was trying to board a flight at the airport.
nicked [someone] + as/while [action]
Gabriel got <hl>nicked</hl> for selling fake tickets outside the concert hall.
got nicked for [crime]
Min was <hl>nicked</hl> by the traffic police for driving without a valid licence.
Officers <hl>nicked</hl> the two suspects after finding stolen goods in their car.
- release
to let someone go, the opposite of arresting them
文法句型
nick [someone] for [crime]
get nicked
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive construction 'get nicked' or 'be nicked'. The active subject is usually the police or a police officer. Unlike the formal 'arrest', 'nick' suggests the capture was quick or somewhat routine.
常見錯誤
3. to charge someone a dishonest or unfair price for a service or product, especial
to charge someone a dishonest or unfair price for a service or product, especially when they are a visitor or do not know the usual price
João felt the garage had <hl>nicked</hl> him for over three hundred pounds for a simple oil change.
nicked [someone] for [amount]
Tourists often get <hl>nicked</hl> by taxi drivers who take a much longer route to the hotel.
get nicked by [someone]
Mira realised the market seller had <hl>nicked</hl> her by charging double the usual price for the spices.
Kasia was sure the hotel had <hl>nicked</hl> her for the minibar items she never touched.
- overcharge
the neutral standard term without any suggestion of dishonesty
- rip off
informal in both British and American English, very common
- fleece
informal British, similar meaning but stronger sense of deception
文法句型
nick [someone] for [amount]
用法筆記
This sense is less common than the other verb senses and may sound dated to younger British speakers. The amount charged is introduced by 'for'. The victim is the direct object.
常見錯誤
4. to create a small, shallow cut or mark on a surface or body part, usually by acc
to create a small, shallow cut or mark on a surface or body part, usually by accident with a sharp tool
Vinícius <hl>nicked</hl> his finger while chopping vegetables for the evening meal.
nicked [body part] while [activity]
Joshua accidentally <hl>nicked</hl> the new leather sofa with a pair of scissors.
nicked [object] with [tool]
Élise <hl>nicked</hl> her chin while shaving and a tiny drop of blood appeared.
The gardener <hl>nicked</hl> the blade of his favourite shovel against a hidden stone in the soil.
文法句型
nick [body part/object] on/with [tool]
用法筆記
The cut is always small and superficial. Unlike 'cut', 'nick' implies the action was accidental and the damage is minor. Can be used for people (skin), objects (furniture, tools), or surfaces (walls, floors).
常見錯誤
5. in cricket, to accidentally strike the ball with the narrow side of the bat rath
in cricket, to accidentally strike the ball with the narrow side of the bat rather than the broad flat front, often giving the fielding side a chance to catch it
Jabari <hl>nicked</hl> the ball to the wicketkeeper and was dismissed for twelve runs.
nicked the ball to [fielder]
The batsman knew he had <hl>nicked</hl> it when he felt the ball brush the side of his bat.
Nikhil <hl>nicked</hl> a fast delivery from the bowler straight to the fielder at first slip.
Manuela <hl>nicked</hl> the ball low to the ground and the slip fielder made a fine catch.
- edge
the standard cricket term; 'nick' and 'edge' are used interchangeably in this context
文法句型
nick the ball to [fielder]
用法筆記
This is a specialist cricket term. The word 'nick' in this sense only applies to the batting side and the contact is always accidental. When a batsman intentionally hits the ball with the edge, it is called a 'slash' or 'cut', not a 'nick'.