It came just in the nick of time! I mean I understand what the expression means but really where did nick come from?
2006-07-26 17:20:25 · 8 answers · asked by finkksta 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nic2.htm
this gives you the origin.
2006-07-26 17:23:56 · answer #1 · answered by importance of being wilde 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A nick is a tiny chunk or piece taken out of something for measurement - about the tiniest you can get. In the nick of time is when there is only the tiniest piece of time left before time is up for something (even relatively speaking), and so the person or object was rescued in the last tiny increment of time or the "nick".
The origin? This came from the link below:
The "nick" in "nick of time" is just that, a "nick" cut in what used to be called a "tally-stick." In the halcyon days before computers, nicks in tally-sticks were often used to keep track of any sort of numerical data, from commercial accounts to the scores at sporting matches. In fact, even as recently as the early 1800s, the British Government relied on tally-sticks to record government loans. But the phrase itself comes from the playing field -- if a sporting contest was won by a last-minute goal, the decisive score would be said to be "a nick in time."
2006-07-27 00:30:56 · answer #2 · answered by still learning at 56 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nick (fullname Nick Justin Davidson) is actually a time traveller who went back in time and coined the phrase in the early 1700's. He Managed to stop the world from exploding twice and hence was credited with saving time itself. Hence it is known as "Justin, the Nick of time".
2006-07-27 00:24:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most popular Nick like Nick of 98 Degrees. He's the nick of our time! Get it? Hah! I kill me!
2006-07-27 00:22:49 · answer #4 · answered by philhanan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a Bible verse for you. There are people who get saved by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died for their sins just before they die and are cast into hell. In the nick of time. Jude 1: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
2006-07-27 00:27:47 · answer #5 · answered by Ray W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an idiom.
in the nick of time: Just at the critical moment; just in time.
2006-07-27 00:24:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was probably some sort of measurement and then since it was small they stated using it as you said it.as i would like a nick off that.meaning a little
m just bullshitting though
2006-07-27 00:25:47 · answer #7 · answered by sinnerrgonetohell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
je ne sais pas madame. perhaps the french?
2006-07-27 00:22:26 · answer #8 · answered by strictly_maggie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋