in the nick of time
in the NIK of TYM
/ɪn ðə nɪk əv taɪm/
At the last possible moment; just before it is too late.
Suggests a narrow escape from a negative outcome.
The story behind the word. A 'nick' was a small notch cut into a 'tally stick' used for keeping records or measuring time in the 16th century. To be 'in the nick' meant to be exactly on the mark.
Word relationships
- at the last minute: 'At the last minute' is more common; 'in the nick of time' is more dramatic.
- too late: 'Too late' means the window of opportunity has passed.
Commonly confused with
- at the eleventh hour: 'At the eleventh hour' often refers to decisions or negotiations; 'in the nick of time' often refers to physical actions or rescues.
Collocations
- arrived in the nick of time
- saved in the nick of time
- just in the nick of time
Example sentences
- "The rescue party arrived in the nick of time to save the stranded travelers from the rising tide." Classic Literature
- "The surgeon arrived in the nick of time to perform the life-saving operation." Medical emergency
Memory hook
Think of a 'nick' as a tiny scratch on a timeline that you just barely reached. The tiny notch that saves the day.
When not to use
Do not use for events that were planned to happen late; it must imply a sense of 'just barely'.
Fun facts
- Before clocks were common, people used notched sticks to keep track of days or debts.
Related words
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