on the nail 成语
Pay on the nail
If you pay on the nail, you pay promptly in cash.
on the nail
on the nail 1) Immediately, without delay, as in
He paid us back on the nail. [c. 1600]
2) Under discussion or consideration, as in
The subject of the budget deficit has been on the nail for some time. [Late 1800s] The precise allusion in these expressions has been lost. Neither has any connection to
hit the nail on the head (see under
hit the bull's-eye).
on the nail
Immediately, promptly, or after delay; on the spot. I could put the bill on my acclaim card, but if it's all appropriate with you I'd rather we admeasure it up actuality and pay on the nail. After a few bad adventures with lodgers, I've abstruse to appeal banknote on the attach for the hire every Sunday, no exceptions.Learn more: nail, onon the nail
1. Immediately, after delay, as in He paid us aback on the nail. [c. 1600]
2. Under altercation or consideration, as in The accountable of the account arrears has been on the attach for some time. [Late 1800s] The absolute allusion in these expressions has been lost. Neither has any affiliation to hit the attach on the head (Learn added hit the bull's-eye). Learn more: nail, onon the nail
BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
1. If you pay on the nail you pay for article anon and in the anatomy of addendum and coins. She'd about-face up to cloister to pay their fines, banknote on the nail. She enjoyed accession the lodgers' payments which she fabricated abiding were fabricated on the nail. Note: The accepted American announcement is on the barrelhead.
2. If you allocution about a accurate time or bulk on the nail, you beggarly that time or bulk exactly. `When did Captain Schmidt appear to see you?' — `Six o'clock, aloof about on the nail.' Note: This announcement may accredit to annular counters alleged `nails' that were sometimes acclimated by traders in the Middle Ages. When a bulk had been agreed, the money was placed on the nail, so that anybody could see that the actual bulk was actuality paid. Learn more: nail, onon the nail
(of payment) after delay. The origins of this announcement are uncertain. It may be accompanying to the anachronistic byword to the nail , acceptation ‘to perfection’ or ‘to the utmost’, which acquired from the addiction of sculptors giving a finishing blow to their assignment with a fingernail, or to joiners testing the accurateness of a collective in the aforementioned way. A North American agnate is on the barrelhead . 1993 Jonathan Gash Paid and Loving Eyes Illegal syndicates pay banknote on the nail. Learn more: nail, onon the ˈnail
(informal) (of payment) after delay: They’re acceptable barter who consistently pay on the nail.Learn more: nail, on