emery board

American  

noun

1. a small, stiff strip of paper or cardboard, coated with powdered emery, used in manicuring.

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emery board British  

noun

1. a strip of cardboard or wood with a rough surface of crushed emery, for filing one's nails

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Etymology

Origin of emery board

First recorded in 1715–25

Compare meaning

How does emery-board compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• emery board vs. nail file

Example Sentences

Joe Niekro had an emery board and a piece of sandpaper.

From Washington Times • Mar. 5, 2020

The political wife is repeatedly described as a kind of human emery board, trotted out to smooth the candidate’s rough edges and make him more accessible to voters.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2012

"I don't usually get a cold," she says in a voice borrowed from an emery board.

From Time Magazine Archive

First, Phil Niekro's younger brother Joe was nabbed in a Minnesota game with an emery board in his hip pocket.

From Time Magazine Archive

But to her surprise he said yes, and to her greater surprise added, “I used to do my mom’s nails. So I know how to use the emery board and everything.”

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman