1in the nick of timeON TIMEjust before it is too late, or just before something bad happens 在紧要关头;正是时候
Luckily, help arrived in the nick of time.
幸运的是援兵及时到来。
Examples from the Corpus
in the nick of time• But better in the nick of time than not at all.• Patience, she counselled herself, and turned the chickenin the nick of time.• With repairs completed in the nick of time she sailed for the operation with a depletedcrew.• Radiocontact was establishedin the nick of time and we managed to transmit a message to the ship.• He did, however, in the nick of time, and I was issued uneventfully into the governance of Calvin Coolidge.• It finally happened -- and just in the nick of time.• Enter Taligent with its promised solution for rapidapplicationsprototyping and customization in a hardware-independent environment just in the nick of time.• She escaped from her smoke-filled home just in the nick of time.• Those doughtyeditorialprofessionals at the Star have once again helped us avert a foolishmistake just in the nick of time!• The money came through just in the nick of time.• But all was well in the nick of time.
2in good nick/in bad nick etcBritish EnglishBrE informalCONDITION/STATE OF something in good condition or in bad condition 状态良好/不好等
It’s an old car but it’s still in good nick.
这是辆旧车,但性能仍然不错。
3.CUT[countableC] a very small cut made on the edge or surface of something 刻痕;裂口
4.the nickBritish EnglishBrE informalSCJ a policestation 警察局
Examples from the Corpus
nick• Anyone still in Lewisham nick would have been carrying.• Even the smallest nick can cause streaking.• They're all in the nick. charged with possession.• But better in the nick of time than not at all.• With repairscompleted in the nick of time she sailed for the operation with a depletedcrew.• In the nick of time: according to one recent report 80 out of 92 leagueclubs are technically insolvent.• I could smell their tobacco and see the nicks left by their razors.• You could see the nicks on them, places where you stuck some one.
2CUTto make a small cut in the surface or edge of something, usually by accident 〔意外地〕刻痕于;擦伤
He nicked his hand on some broken glass.
他被一些碎玻璃割破了手。
3British EnglishBrE informalSCPCATCH if the police nick you, they catch you and charge you with a crime 抓获,逮捕,拘捕SYN arrest
You’re nicked!
你被捕了!
Examples from the Corpus
nick• Roy Wintersnicked a line-outball, and the forwards worked their way closer.• The bulletspun around his body, nicking a rib and burning across his back.• He'd scatter some of the grain he'd nicked, and fetch down the wire and cutters, and his books.• She looked, appropriately, nicked by the sarcasm of his tone.• He was not sure how he cut his hand, but suggested that he nicked himself while wrestling with his son.• I must have nicked myself when I was shaving this morning.• They'd nick you for lifting the wallet, and me as well probably, for helping you.• There isn't a finite amount of love to go round so there's a danger some one else might nick your share.
Originnick1
(1400-1500) Perhaps from nock“small cut in the end of a bow for the string to fit in”((14-20 centuries))