in the nick of time
/ɪn ðə ˌnɪk əv ˈtaɪm/NEUTRAL · B2
Meaning
just before it becomes too late
Examples
- 1We reached the platform in the nick of time, just as the train doors were closing.
- 2Her warning came in the nick of time; I nearly sent the wrong attachment.
- 3With one second left before entries closed, Maya submitted her form in the nick of time.
- 4Ben caught the falling vase in the nick of time, inches above the tiles.
- 5The replacement battery arrived in the nick of time, seconds before our only camera stopped working.
Grammar
A fixed adverbial phrase. Keep in the nick of time unchanged; just can go before it.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about time
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →better late than neverdoing something late is preferable to not doing ittime fliesthe hours or years seem to pass surprisingly quicklyat the drop of a hatimmediately and with very little encouragementaround the clockcontinuously throughout the day and nightagainst the clockhurrying to finish before a deadlineat the crack of dawnvery early in the morning as daylight begins
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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