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That is an analogy from carpentry. To miss the nail and strike the wood will damage the wood. Hitting the nail off-center may cause the nail to shoot off and fly through the air. When you come up with a perfect solution to a problem it is like hitting the nail squarely.
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12y ago
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6d ago

The idiom "hit the nail on the head" originated from the act of accurately hitting a nail directly on its head while hammering, indicating precision and correctness in a figurative sense. It has been used since the early 16th century to signify getting something exactly right or identifying the main point.

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Q: What is the origin of the idiom Hit the nail on the head?
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What does the idiom youv'e hit the nail on the head mean?

The meaning of this expression is to say something that perfectly expresses the subject, or provides the most accurate description of a situation. When you are hammering in a nail and you hit is squarely on the head you drive the point of the nail straight home, deep into the wood. If you miss the nail slightly, you may bend the nail, hit your thumb and make a mess of the wood. The expression 'hit the nail on the head' means that you have made the point clearly or described exactly what is causing a situation or problem. The saying, "Hit the nail on the head" is used to mean that you hit your mark, you understood or made the point exactly.


What does hit the nail mean idiom?

it means go to sleep


When was You Hit the Nail on the Head created?

You Hit the Nail on the Head was created in 1972.


What is the meaning of the idiom hit the rail on the head?

I bet the expression you're thinking of is "hit the nail on the head" which has to do with striking a hammer against a nail perfectly on target. So the expression means to say something that really thoroughly answered the question. Maybe "hitting the rail on the head" is just a Mondegreen.See related question below for information about Mondegreens.


What is the idiom hit the rails on your hand?

I have never heard this expression before. I suspect you heard something incorrectly. You should ask whoever said it to explain the meaning. There IS an idiom that says "hit the nail on the head" which means that someone conveyed exactly the right information or got something perfectly correct


How many nouns are in the following sentence you hit the nail on the head?

There are two nouns in that sentence: "nail" and "head".


Does Shel Silverstein have any poems using idioms?

Yes, Shel Silverstein has a poem called "Hit the Nail on the Head" that incorporates the idiom into its title. In this poem, Silverstein uses playful language and clever wordplay typical of his style to explore the meaning of the idiom.


How do you answer hit the nail right on the head?

"Hit the nail right on the head" means getting something exactly right or accurate. It's like hitting a nail directly in the center with a hammer.


What does 'hit the nail on the head' mean?

The meaning of this expression is to say something that perfectly expresses the subject, or provides the most accurate description of a situation. When you are hammering in a nail and you hit is squarely on the head you drive the point of the nail straight home, deep into the wood. If you miss the nail slightly, you may bend the nail, hit your thumb and make a mess of the wood. The expression 'hit the nail on the head' means that you have made the point clearly or described exactly what is causing a situation or problem. The saying, "Hit the nail on the head" is used to mean that you hit your mark, you understood or made the point exactly.


What does it mean when someone say you have a hit nail in the head?

When someone says, "you've hit the nail on the head," they mean that you have accurately identified or addressed a problem or issue. It implies that you have expressed exactly the right idea or solution.


Is you hit the nail om the head an allusion?

No, it's a simile.


Why does a nail head get hot when you pound it into a board with a hammer?

its called friction when you hit it with the hammer the two surfaces rub together aka the hammer head and the nail head