Definition

Adverb 1. At the last possible moment; just in time to prevent something bad from happening: This phrase describes an action that happens at the very last second before it is too late, often preventing a disaster or a negative outcome.

Usage

The phrase "in the nick of time" is used to emphasize that an action or event occurred at the final, critical moment. It is commonly used in narratives and everyday speech to highlight a narrow escape or timely intervention.

Examples

• The firefighter pulled the child from the burning building in the nick of time.
• I found my passport in the nick of time; my flight was boarding in ten minutes.
• The goalie made a spectacular save in the nick of time.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used with the verb "to arrive" to emphasize punctuality under pressure.
  • The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.
• It can be modified with "just" for additional emphasis on the narrow margin.
  • He finished the exam just in the nick of time.

Variants and Related Words

• In time: A less emphatic phrase meaning before a deadline or before something begins.
  • We got to the station in time to catch the train.
• Just in time (JIT): A common business and manufacturing term for a system that arranges for components to arrive exactly when they are needed in the production process.

Synonyms

• At the last minute
• Just in time
• In the eleventh hour
• Under the wire

Antonyms

• Too late
• After the fact
• Belatedly

Related Idioms

• Down to the wire: Until the last possible moment.
  • The election was down to the wire.
• Eleventh hour: The latest possible time.
  • An eleventh-hour deal was reached to avoid the strike.

Adverb

1. at the last possible moment
   • she was saved in the nick of time