- Meaning
- This idiom describes doing or receiving something at the very last possible moment, just before it’s too late, narrowly avoiding failure or disaster. It conveys a sense of urgency and fortunate timing, as if acting precisely at the critical ‘nick’ or notch of time. The phrase is used in dramatic, professional, or personal contexts to highlight close calls and timely interventions, carrying a tone of relief, excitement, or suspense. It reflects cultural fascination with clutch moments and the thrill of beating the clock, often emphasizing the precarious balance between success and failure in high-stakes scenarios. The idiom resonates in storytelling and everyday life, capturing the drama of last-second rescues or completions.
- Origin
- The phrase originates from 16th-century England, tied to the practice of marking time with notches or ‘nicks’ on tally sticks or clocks, where a ‘nick’ denoted a precise moment. An early use appears in Arthur Golding’s 1577 translation of *The Psalms*: ‘In the nick of time, God sent aid.’ The idiom gained traction in the 17th century, reflecting a culture of precise timing in trade and navigation, as seen in Samuel Pepys’ diary entries noting timely actions. Its dramatic use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, with Charles Dickens’ *Nicholas Nickleby* (1839) employing it for suspenseful rescues. The phrase’s adoption in American English was amplified during the 20th century through adventure stories, films, and journalism, particularly in World War II narratives of last-minute heroics. Its vivid imagery, rooted in the tangible concept of a notch, and its universal appeal in tense situations ensured its widespread use across English-speaking cultures, from pulp fiction to corporate deadlines.
- Variants
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- In the nick of time
- Just in the nick of time
- At the nick of time
- In the very nick of time
- Examples
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- She arrived in the nick of time, saving the presentation with her data.
- Just in the nick of time, he caught the last train before it left.
- At the nick of time, the firefighters rescued the family from the burning house.
- In the very nick of time, the funds came through to save the project.
- They finished the report in the nick of time, submitting it seconds before the deadline.
- In the nick of time, she swerved to avoid the oncoming car.
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