ɪn ðə nɪk əv taɪm
Time
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- At the exact notch or mark of time
What does "in the nick of time" mean?
- Just in time; at the last possible moment
- Barely before it's too late
Examples
- The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
- She finished the exam in the nick of time.
- We caught the train in the nick of time.
Origin
From the practice of keeping score by cutting notches ('nicks') in a tally stick. Being 'in the nick' meant being at the exact right point.
How to use it
Emphasizes how close the timing was to being too late. Often used for dramatic effect.
Similar expressions
just in time
at the last moment
barely in time
Opposites
too late
not in time
Related idioms
- in the long run
Over a long period of time
- better late than never
It's better to do something late than not to do it at all
- from time to time
occasionally, not regularly
- run out of time
to have no more time left to do something
- time flies when you're having fun
Enjoyable moments seem to pass quickly
- have the time of one's life
to have an extremely enjoyable experience
Use it in a practice answer
Try "in the nick of time" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.