in the nick of time

Idioms  

1. Also, just in time. At the last moment, as in The police arrived in the nick of time, or He got there just in time for dinner. The first term began life as in the nick and dates from the 1500s, when nick meant “the critical moment” (a meaning now obsolete). The second employs just in the sense of “precisely” or “closely,” a usage applied to time since the 1500s. Also see in time, def. 1.

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Example Sentences

Thankfully, the ruckus in the henhouse had summoned Dr. Westminster back from his rounds; he came jogging in just in the nick of time.

From Literature

Again, Penelope stopped herself in the nick of time, for she could easily have added, “Imagine, trying to find my way to the zoo by following the smell of elephants!”

From Literature

The best he’ll do is trust they know he’s computed their running speed against the rate of the closing doors to ensure the humans make it in the nick of time.

From Salon

As it happened, Bernstein made good on his promise of filling up Shea and meeting Epstein’s expectations in the nick of time.

From Salon

She was reinstated in the nick of time to stand as a Labour candidate in last year's general election.

From BBC