neɪl ɪn ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈkɒfɪn
General
neutral
intermediate
- Literally:
- A nail driven into someone's burial coffin
What does "nail in someone's coffin" mean?
- Something that contributes to someone's failure or downfall
- An action or event that hastens an end
Examples
- That scandal was another nail in his political coffin.
- Each mistake is a nail in the company's coffin.
- The poor reviews were the final nail in the movie's coffin.
Origin
Each nail in a coffin brings it closer to completion and burial. Extended to mean steps toward someone's figurative end.
How to use it
Usually used with 'another' or 'final.' Suggests accumulating negative factors.
Similar expressions
death blow
final straw
contributing factor to failure
Opposites
lifeline
boost
saving grace
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "nail in someone's coffin" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.