Definition
The last in a series of events or actions that ensures the complete failure or end of something.
Etymology
This morbid metaphor dates to the 19th century, drawing from the literal practice of sealing coffins with nails. The phrase evolved to describe any action that definitively ends or destroys something, emphasizing finality and irreversibility through its connection to death and burial.
Kelly Says
The phrase's power comes from its finality - unlike other 'ending' expressions, this one suggests not just conclusion but burial and permanence. It's become particularly popular in sports commentary and business journalism because it dramatically captures the moment when defeat becomes inevitable.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
አመለካች እንቁላል
a-me-le-kach en-k-u-la-l
ARالعربية
الزُّبْرُ الأوْلَى
al-zubr al-awla
CACatalà
el clau final
el claw fee-nal
CSČeština
poslední hřeb
posled-ni hreb
DADansk
den sidste spik
den sidste spi-k
DEDeutsch
der letzte Nagel
der let-ste nah-gel
ELΕλληνικά
το τελευταίο καρφί
to te-tra-goo-io kar-fi
ESEspañol
el golpe final
el gol-peh fee-nal
FAفارسی
آخرین میخ
a-khre-een mee-kh
FISuomi
viimeinen naula
vee-mee-nen nau-la
FRFrançais
le clou final
luh klooh fee-nal
GUGU
મૂલ્યાંકન
moo-lya-an-kan
HAHA
kyaut na karshe
kyaut na kar-she
HEעברית
הברגה האחרונה
ha-ber-gah ha-a-khro-nah
HIहिन्दी
ताबूत में अंतिम पेंच
taa-boot mein an-tim pench
HUMagyar
a végső szögel
a vegső sö-gel
IDBahasa Indonesia
paku terakhir
pa-ku ter-akhir
IGIG
ọfọ ya nwụrụ
o-fo ya noo-roo
ITItaliano
il chiodo finale
il choh-do fee-na-leh
JA日本語
棺材に最後の釘
kanzai ni saigo no kugi
KKKK
ақырғы тая
a-ky-r-gy ta-ya
KMKM
ក្បាលចង្កៀងចុងក្រោយ
k-b-al chan-k-i-eng chun k-ro-ai
KO한국어
지붕의 마지막 못
ji-pung-ui ma-ji-mak mot
MSBahasa Melayu
paku terakhir
pa-ku ter-akhir
MYမြန်မာ
အဆုံးတွဲ တံ
a-su-bon-twe tan
NLNederlands
de laatste spijker
de laa-ste spy-ker
NONorsk
den siste spik
den see-ste spi-k
PAPA
ਅਖੀਰ ਟਿੱਕਾ
akh-eer tik-ka
PLPolski
ostatni gwoździe
o-sta-tni gwoz-dzye
PTPortuguês
o prego final
oh preh-go fee-nal
RORomână
ultima cuișă
ool-tee-ma coo-ish-a
RUРусский
последний гвоздь в крышку
posledniy gvozдь v kryushku
SVSvenska
den sista spiken
den see-sta spi-ken
SWKiswahili
mtego wa mwisho
m-tay-go wa m-wee-sho
TAதமிழ்
கடைசி மের
ka-dai-si mer
TEతెలుగు
చివరి నొక్క
chi-va-ri nok-ka
THไทย
ตะปูสุดท้าย
ta-poo soot-tai
TLTL
huling pako
hoo-ling pah-ko
TRTürkçe
sandıktaki son çivi
san-dik-tee son ch-ee-vee
UKУкраїнська
останній цвях
o-stan-nyi tsvakh
URاردو
آخری میخ
a-khree mee-kh
VITiếng Việt
cái đinh cuối cùng
cai dinh cuoi cung
YOYO
ẹ̀rọ̀ ìyàwó
e-ro i-yaw-o
ZUZU
umshayeli we-mvelaphi
oom-sha-ye-li we-m-ve-la-phi