pin down
Britishverb
-
to force (someone) to make a decision or carry out a promise
-
to define clearly
he had a vague suspicion that he couldn't quite pin down
-
to confine to a place
the fallen tree pinned him down
-
Fix or establish clearly, as in The firefighters finally were able to pin down the source of the odor . [Mid-1900s]
-
Force someone to give precise information or opinions, as in The reporter pinned down the governor on the issue of conservation measures . [c. 1700]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His love of the tape experience stems from a vibe that’s a little hard to pin down.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
He is not easily categorized as a political actor, and that ambiguity is precisely what makes him so difficult to pin down — and so easy to amplify.
From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026
Color also proves surprisingly difficult to pin down in words.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
“Palantir’s story used to be hard to pin down: powerful technology, big claims, and a lot of debate,” he added.
From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026
It’s the type of song that settles in your bones and makes you sad for a reason you can’t quite pin down.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
