nicked
nicked — noun
1. a very small cut or mark on the surface of an object or on someone's skin, usual
a very small cut or mark on the surface of an object or on someone's skin, usually caused by a sharp edge bumping or scraping against it.
Tomás noticed a small nick in the wooden table where the box had scraped it.
nick in [noun phrase]
The razor left a tiny nick on Eshe's chin, but it stopped bleeding quickly.
There was a small nick on the edge of the kitchen knife from years of use.
nick on [surface/edge]
The glass was covered in tiny nicks and scratches from being washed so many times.
plural form: nicks
- tiny nick
- small nick
- nick on the edge
- nick in the surface
- leave a nick
Grammar Patterns
nick in [noun]
Usage Note
A nick is smaller and less serious than a cut or a scratch — it often refers to a minor imperfection in a surface rather than a wound.
Common Mistakes
2. a British slang term for a prison or a police station where someone is held afte
a British slang term for a prison or a police station where someone is held after being arrested.
Kabir spent three years in the nick for burglary before being released last spring.
in the nick
The detective took the suspect down to the nick for questioning about the robbery.
down to the nick
His older brother had been in and out of the nick since he was seventeen years old.
The officers brought the pickpocket back to the nick and locked him in a cell.
brought [someone] back to the nick
- in the nick
- out of the nick
- back to the nick
Grammar Patterns
the nick
in the nick
Usage Note
Always used with the definite article: 'the nick'. Used informally in British English; not common in American English.
Common Mistakes
3. the condition or state that someone or something is in, most often used in infor
the condition or state that someone or something is in, most often used in informal British English to describe how healthy a person is or how well something works.
For a man in his seventies, Grandpa Hari is in surprisingly good nick.
in good nick
The old motorcycle was in pretty poor nick when Hamza bought it at the garage sale.
in poor nick
After three weeks of rest, the injured runner said she felt back in decent nick again.
Eitan checked the second-hand furniture and decided it was in reasonable nick for the price.
in reasonable nick
- in good nick
- in poor nick
- in decent nick
- in reasonable nick
Grammar Patterns
in good/poor nick
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the phrase 'in [adjective] nick' — typically with good, poor, bad, decent, reasonable, or similar evaluative adjectives. Can refer to people (health) or objects (condition).
nicked — verb
- nickedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- nickeds3rd person singular
- nickeding-ing form
- nickededpast simple
1. to accidentally or deliberately make a very small cut or mark on a surface, an e
to accidentally or deliberately make a very small cut or mark on a surface, an edge, or someone's skin, usually with a sharp object.
Hana nicked her finger while chopping vegetables for the evening meal.
nick [body part] while [doing something]
The careless mover nicked the corner of the new sofa against the door frame.
Emily nicked her chin with the razor and had to use a small plaster to cover the cut.
nick [body part] with [tool]
Be careful with that blade — one slip and you will nick the leather surface of the chair.
- nick [body part]
- nick [surface]
- nick [oneself]
- nicked with [tool]
- nicked on [something]
Grammar Patterns
nick [something]
nick [oneself] on/with [something]
Usage Note
This sense overlaps with the noun sense (sense 1) — the verb describes the action that causes the mark. A nick is less serious than a cut.
2. to take something that does not belong to you, especially in a fairly casual or
to take something that does not belong to you, especially in a fairly casual or small-scale way rather than as a professional thief.
Someone nicked my phone from the table while I was ordering coffee at the counter.
nick [something] from [somewhere]
Asher caught his younger brother trying to nick a biscuit from the tin when nobody was looking.
A thief nicked a laptop from the office during the lunch break last Tuesday.
Who nicked my pen? It was on the desk a moment ago and now it has gone.
informal accusation: 'Who nicked...?'
- nick [something]
- nick from
- get nicked
Grammar Patterns
nick [something] from [somewhere/someone]
Usage Note
Less serious in tone than 'steal' — suggests taking something small or opportunistically rather than planning a robbery. Very common in everyday British conversation.
Common Mistakes
3. of the police, to catch and formally take someone into custody because they are
of the police, to catch and formally take someone into custody because they are believed to have committed a crime.
The police nicked Niran for shoplifting after the store manager called them.
police nick [someone] for [crime]
Two teenagers were nicked on Friday evening for breaking into a car near the station.
passive: get nicked / were nicked
The detective said they would nick the suspect as soon as they had enough evidence.
Hyun knew he would get nicked eventually, but he kept running from the officers anyway.
- get nicked
- nicked for [crime]
- nicked by the police
Grammar Patterns
nick [someone]
get nicked by [police]
Usage Note
Subject is always the police or law enforcement. The passive form 'get nicked' (meaning 'get arrested') is very common in everyday British speech.
Common Mistakes
4. to charge someone far more money than is fair or reasonable for a product or ser
to charge someone far more money than is fair or reasonable for a product or service, often by taking advantage of the situation.
The taxi driver nicked us for fifty pounds on a ride that should have cost twenty.
nick [someone] for [amount]
Tourists often get nicked by market sellers who double the price for visitors.
passive: get nicked by [someone]
Élise felt the repair shop had nicked her when they charged two hundred euros for a simple fix.
The mechanic tried to nick Amihan for extra work that the car did not actually need.
- nick [someone] for [amount]
- get nicked
- nicked by [someone/shop]
- overcharge
neutral and more formal; does not necessarily imply dishonesty
- rip off
similar informal register; very common in both UK and US English
Grammar Patterns
nick [someone] for [amount]
Usage Note
Stronger than 'overcharge' — suggests deliberate dishonesty or an unreasonable price. Often used with 'for' to state what was paid.
Common Mistakes
5. in cricket, to accidentally strike the ball with the bat's narrow side rather th
in cricket, to accidentally strike the ball with the bat's narrow side rather than its flat front surface, often sending the ball straight to a fielder who then catches it out.
The batsman nicked the ball to the wicket-keeper and had to walk back to the pavilion.
nick the ball to [fielder]
Ahmed nicked a fast delivery from the bowler and was caught at first slip.
The crowd fell silent when the umpire raised his finger after the ball had been nicked.
passive: ball had been nicked
Diego nicked the ball to the wicket-keeper, who caught it cleanly behind the stumps.
- nick to [fielder]
- nick the ball
- get a nick
- caught off a nick
- edge
the verb 'edge' can also describe hitting the ball with the bat's edge; used interchangeably in cricket commentary
Grammar Patterns
nick [the ball]
nick to [fielder]
Usage Note
This sense is specific to cricket. A 'nick' (the hit) can lead to a 'caught behind' dismissal. The passive construction ('the ball was nicked') is also common in commentary.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Nick, cut, scratch, and notch all describe damaging a surface, but they differ in how the damage is made and how serious it is. A nick is a small, often accidental mark — like nicking your chin while shaving. A cut is usually deeper and more deliberate, such as cutting a piece of paper with scissors. A scratch is a thin, shallow line on a surface — think of a cat scratching a wooden floor. A notch is a V-shaped indentation that is often made on purpose, like notching a stick to keep count. For everyday minor damage, especially to skin or finished surfaces, 'nick' is the best choice for tiny accidental marks. 'Cut' covers broader and more serious injuries.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'nick' dates back to late Middle English (1400s), originally referring to a small cut or notch. The verb sense 'to make a small cut' appeared around the same time. The slang meanings — 'to steal', 'to arrest', and 'prison' — emerged in British English during the 1800s, possibly evolving from the idea of being 'nicked' or caught as if by a small notch or trap. The cricket sense developed in the late 1800s as the sport's terminology grew.
First known use
15th century
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb