What does 'put he nail in the coffin' mean?

Question

im doin an arrow word and not sure what his means lol any help?

Answer 1

its like the straw that broke the camels back

Answer 2

usually known for bad situations, the phrase means to complete the final step to maybe destruction.

Answer 3

The references give several versions.  It means the last step to total failure for something already failing.  It may come from the idea that if you were being buried, but still alive, if you awoke, a nail in the coffin would prevent you from getting out. or it may be from the fact that coffin lids were nailed as the last step.

It can be used for something good, but final.  For example if you were working a jigsaw puzzle and had the last piece, you could say put that nail in the coffin, meaning add the last puzzle piece.

It is most used for bad things happening, however.

Answer 4

it means smoke a cigarette.  everytime you smoke one you are putting another nail in "your" coffin.

Answer 5

seal the deal usually maybe that helps?

Answer 6

Another nail in somebody's coffin refers to an action, etc., that takes a person a step closer to death or some other unpleasant occurence like public disgrace.

Answer 7

It means "close the deal",  the situation is resolved or no further action is necessary or possible.  Over, finished, done with, nothings else can be done to change the fact.

Answer 8

It means, that a person was heading for a bad situation, and the "nail" is the final step he took to finalize disaster.

Example:  a student had marginal grades and then decided to take a vacation and missed the last week of his studies before the tests.   He "put the nail in the coffin" of his grades.

Answer 9

Similar to "the last straw" or last resort or last hope

other meanings:

something that hasten's death or defeat

Finalizing your death

Answer 10

it means to finalise some sort of bad situaution- make it irreversable

Answer 11

Doing something that is going to be detrimental to your health, like smoking or drinking alcohol, having unprotected s*x or driving without safety belts.