nail down
verb (tr, adverb)
to fasten down with or as if with nails
informal to extort a definite promise or consent fromI nailed him down on the deadline
informal to settle in a definite waythey nailed down the agreement
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Idioms and Phrases with nail down
nail down
Establish conclusively, as in The reporter nailed down the story by checking all the facts. This metaphoric expression alludes to fixing or fastening something down with nails. [c. 1600]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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