The Clue
File or polish (4 letter answer)
The Answer
NAIL
Tags
Notes
The answer NAIL is seen frequently, appearing about once every 100 puzzles.
Related Clues
Ace
Catch
Claw
Clinch
Fastener
Tenpenny, for one
Unguis
"For want of a ___ . . . "
"For want of a ___ the . . . "
Brad, e.g.
Brad or spad
Cabinetmaker's need
Catch in the act
Catch a thief
Cobbler's sparable
Do perfectly
Drive tenpennies
Fasten firmly
Fasten permanently
Finger's tip
Hammer's target
Kind of file
Kingdom loser
Polish locale
Polish preceder
Something to file
Spike's relative
Tooth's partner
Catch but good
Catch red-handed
Clip-and-file item
Do carpentry work
Get but good
Get exactly right
It's at your fingertip
Something often polished
Word with polish or file
It gets hit on the head
Definition
NAIL as a noun:
1. horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
2. a thin pointed piece of metal that is hammered into materials as a fastener
3. a former unit of length for cloth equal to 1/16 of a yard
NAIL as a verb:
1. attach something somewhere by means of nails; "nail the board onto the wall"
2. (collar, nail, apprehend, arrest, pick up, nab, cop) = take into custody; "the police nabbed the suspected criminals"
3. (smash, nail, boom, blast) = hit hard; "He smashed a 3-run homer"
4. (nail down, nail, peg) = succeed in obtaining a position; "He nailed down a spot at Harvard"
5. (breeze through, ace, pass with flying colors, sweep through, sail through, nail) = succeed at easily; "She sailed through her exams"; "You will pass with flying colors"; "She nailed her astrophysics course"
6. (pinpoint, nail) = locate exactly; "can you pinpoint the position of the enemy?"; "The chemists could not nail the identity of the chromosome"
7. (complete, nail) = complete a pass