He got to the railway station in the nick of time. In the nick of time definition: If you say that something happens in the nick of time , you are emphasizing that it... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Albums. Prior to the 16th century there was another expression used to convey that meaning - 'pudding time'. Watches and the strings of musical instruments were adjusted to precise pre-marked nicks to keep them in proper order. The apologized profusely. The motivation appears to be the desire to express a finer degree of timing than the vague 'around the beginning of the meal'. Define in the nick of time. under the wire Topics for “in the nick of time… In 13th and 14th century England, the idiom ‘in the nick of time’ appeared and the nick was meant to represent a notch or small cut. The patient's life was saved. See also: nick, of, time. By the 1600s, the prepositional phrase of time was added to the idiom, and in the nick of time has been a popular expression ever since. And the right spelling is “nick.”. Here’s a list of phrases that refer directly to time. in the ordinary, normal, etc. The English language gives us the opportunity to be 'in' many things - the doldrums, the offing, the pink; we can even be down in the dumps. Comments are closed. At the last minute, just in time. in the nick of time = at the last moment before it’s too late. Her ability to turn a phrase and invest lyrics with emotion — especially an unadorned sexuality — makes her the valedictorian in a class that includes more successful contemporaries like Linda Ronstadt." Arthur Golding gave what is likely to be the first example of the use of 'nick' in this context in his translation of Ovid's Metamorphosis, 1565: Another thing cleane overthwart there commeth in the nicke:The Ladie Semell great with childe by Jove as then was quicke. Sometime round about the 1580s the phrase in the nick or in the very nick began to be used for the critical moment, the … ‘Roland, meanwhile, lands in the nick of time to beat the enemy Saracen Sarwegur and save the city and all of France.’ ‘Devon noted the truck stopped just in the nick of time too.’ ‘Then, just in the nick of time, I read this… and swiftly reconsidered.’ in the nick of time phrase. To arrive at pudding time was to arrive at the start of the meal, just in time to eat. That car moved off the track in the nick of time—another moment and the train would have smashed into it. I want to thank them for their work on making this right. In the nick of time. Nick of Time quotes: the most famous and inspiring quotes from Nick of Time. In the nick of time has it roots in the 1580s, when in the nick meant at the critical moment. We got to the airport in the nick of time – … a stitch in time (saves nine) phrase. Synonyms and related words Definition and synonyms of in the nick of time from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education. See definition in Dictionary just preventing something bad from happening. At the last possible moment before a deadline or before something begins or ends; just in time. In the “nick” of time means at the last possible moment. In The Nick Of Time is an idiom. 2 more words (right) on cue. The 'time' in 'the nick of time' is rather superfluous, as nick itself refers to time. This term comes from a now obsolete meaning of. So as the phrase transformed with the addition of “in time” to it, it translated to “the critical moment in time.” The term “nick” as it was understood then is now obsolete. Latest possible moment. by the skin of one's teeth. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. in the nick of time -phrase. Noun. on the dot. “Just in the Nick of Time” – Origin: Despite what it seems, arriving in the ‘nick’ of time does not involve a guy named Nick. The image is of a nick or notch in a stick, which made a precise measurement. Just at the critical moment; just in time. Such notches were used on 'tally' sticks to measure or keep score. Received a call from Nick of Time. Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, in the middle of (something or some place), in the midst of something/of doing something. Pudding time is first referred to in print in John Heywood's important glossary A Dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546: This geare comth euen in puddyng time ryghtly. The ambulance arrived in the nick of time . He remembered in the nick of time that his passport was in his coat pocket. Synonyms: ... prompt. They have confirmed that the safe will be delivered at 12:30 on 1/28/17 at no charge. Purchased a safe on Christmas Eve 2016. ... Here’s a site with word and phrase origins, and another called The Phrase Finder. A nick was a mark put on a stick to measure time. “If the Lord don’t come back” – Origin: A phrase similar to an already discussed phrase “Lord Willing/Lord Willing and the creek don’t rise“, the “if the Lord don’t come back” phrase is different in that it has true religious origins. Like this: With all of these expressions it is pretty easy to see what they refer to, but what or where is the 'nick of time'? in the final seconds. That seems a perfectly serviceable idiom, so why did the Tudors change it to 'the nick of time'? NOTCH, NOCK, an indentation, small hollow cut in an arrowhead, &c. Formerly nock, of which notch is a weakened form. In a wink of time, or in no time. This relates to the fact that pudding was the dish served first at medieval mealtimes. lose no time in doing something phrase. The phrase “nick of time” is in reference to a measurement of time, as in a measurement between nicks on a stick. in no time (at all) phrase. 2. The meaning of this idiom is The phrase in the nick of time means at the last possible moment, just before it's too late. duly. nick of time. without time to spare. This is … Nick is an attenuated form of nock, the old spelling of notch, and means a little notch. just in time. Here you can check out the meaning of In The Nick Of Time… Nick of Time Mar 1989 . The language experts are sure that nick here is the same word as that for a small cut or notch. last gasp. in the nick of time definition: 1. at the last possible moment: 2. at the last possible moment: . Another way to say Just In The Nick Of Time? It may not be immediately obvious what the nick of time is, but we do know what it means to be in it, that is, arriving at the last propitious moment. Need synonyms for nick of time? Synonyms for Just In The Nick Of Time (other words and phrases for Just In The Nick Of Time). at the last moment. Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. Pudding was then a savoury dish - a form of sausage or haggis (see also the proof is in the pudding). To Shakespeare and his contemporaries if someone were 'in (or at, or upon) the (very) nick' they were in the precise place at the precise time. last minute. just in time to prevent something bad happening The swimmers were rescued in the nick of time. A shallow notch, cut, or indentation on an edge or a surface: nicks in the table; razor nicks on his chin. http://www.iswearenglish.com/ An explanation of the phrase in the nick of time meaning just at the right moment or just in time https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/in+the+nick+of+time. The first example of the use of the phrase as we now know it comes in Arthur Day's Festivals, 1615: Even in this nicke of time, this very, very instant. Note: the expressions 'keeping score' and 'keeping tally' derive from this and so do 'stocks' and 'shares', which refer to the splitting of such sticks (stocks) along their length and sharing the two matching halves as a record of a deal. in the fullness of time phrase. … “Knicks” is an abbreviation of “Knickerbockers,” meaning a resident of New York or the pro basketball team. They got to the hospital in the nick of time, just as the baby was about to be born. As this trend continued 'pudding time' being used to mean 'in good time' made less and less sense. in / within a short space of time phrase. Also, during the 16th century, pudding began being used as the name of sweet dishes and they were usually served at the end of the meal. in your own (good) time phrase. A It’s definitely one of the stranger idioms in the language. That car moved off the track in the nick of time—another moment and the train would have smashed into it. 2.I nicked. have all the time in the world phrase. with no time to spare. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by Movie Quotes .com This is a historical phrase, also called an idiom. The word nick refers to a notch, cut, or indentation on an edge or a surface.. The word Nick: 1.In the nick of time. ( see also the proof is in the nick of time meant at the last possible moment or! PosSiBle moment in effect of all the Prouerbes in the nick of,... Saves nine ) phrase you got here in the nick of time made! 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