Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

In the nick of time

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "In the nick of time" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourTime, Speed, & Urgency collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Time, Speed, & Urgency

In the nick of time

In the nick of time
At the very last possible moment, just before something bad happens or before it is too late.
History & Origin

The phrase originates from the historical practice of using wooden tally sticks to record transactions, keeping track of scores, or measuring time. A notch or 'nick' was carved into the wood to mark a specific point or deadline; arriving or completing a task exactly as the notch was being cut meant doing it at the absolute critical moment. Over time, 'the nick' became synonymous with the exact precise point of a critical event.

Examples
Workplace Email

Thanks for sending over the updated financial charts; they arrived in the nick of time right before I walked into the board meeting.

Casual Conversation

We ran all the way through the terminal and boarded the plane in the nick of time just as the gate agent was locking the doors.

Academic Writing

The government intervened in the nick of time, implementing aggressive fiscal policies that prevented the imminent collapse of the banking sector.

News/Media

The local fire department arrived in the nick of time to rescue the family stranded on the roof by the rapidly rising floodwaters.

Formal Speech

Our legal team secured the injunction in the nick of time, ensuring that the historic landmark would be protected from the scheduled demolition.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. Since we had an extra three hours to complete the test, we finished it in the nick of time and went out for a long lunch.

B. The paramedic applied the tourniquet in the nick of time, stopping the severe bleeding before the patient lost consciousness.

C. I like to study in the nick of time for my final exams, usually beginning my revision a few months in advance to avoid any stress.

D. The cake was completely ruined because I took it out of the hot oven in the nick of time.