How do you use "Nailed it" in a sentence?

Your presentation was incredible — you totally nailed it! I tried to recreate that recipe from Pinterest... didn't exactly nail it. She nailed the audition and got the lead role.

Nailed it

Q: What does "Nailed it" mean?

To do something perfectly or exactly right. 'Nailed it' expresses perfect execution — like driving a nail in with one hit. It's used both sincerely ('You nailed that presentation!') and sarcastically (often with photos of baking fails compared to the original recipe). The Netflix show 'Nailed It!' popularized the ironic usage.

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: To do something perfectly or exactly right.

完美地做成了某事。做得恰到好处。

Hacer algo a la perfección o exactamente bien.

完璧にやり遂げること。バッチリ決めること。

완벽하게 해내다. 정확히 맞히다.

'Nailed it' expresses perfect execution — like driving a nail in with one hit. It's used both sincerely ('You nailed that presentation!') and sarcastically (often with photos of baking fails compared to the original recipe). The Netflix show 'Nailed It!' popularized the ironic usage.

'Nailed it'表示完美的执行——就像一锤子就把钉子钉进去了。既可以真诚地使用（'You nailed that presentation!'），也可以讽刺地使用（通常配上烘焙失败和原版食谱的对比照片）。Netflix节目'Nailed It!'让这个词的讽刺用法更加流行。

'Nailed it' expresa una ejecución perfecta, como clavar un clavo de un solo golpe. Se usa tanto de forma sincera ('You nailed that presentation!') como sarcástica (a menudo con fotos de desastres de repostería comparados con la receta original). El programa de Netflix 'Nailed It!' popularizó el uso irónico.

「Nailed it」は完璧な実行を表現する — 釘を一発で打ち込むイメージ。真面目に使う場合（「You nailed that presentation!（プレゼン完璧だったね！）」）と、皮肉で使う場合（お菓子作りの失敗写真とレシピの比較写真に添えて）がある。Netflixの番組「Nailed It!」が皮肉な用法を広めた。

'Nailed it'은 완벽한 실행을 표현한다 — 못을 한 번에 박아 넣는 것처럼. 진심으로 사용할 때('발표 완벽했어!')와 비꼼으로 사용할 때(베이킹 실패 사진과 원래 레시피를 비교하며) 모두 쓰인다. Netflix 프로그램 'Nailed It!'이 이 아이러니한 용법을 대중화시켰다.

Examples

Your presentation was incredible — you totally nailed it!
你的演讲太棒了——简直完美！
Tu presentación fue increíble, ¡lo has bordado!
プレゼン最高だったよ — 完璧だった！
발표 정말 대단했어 — 완벽했어!
I tried to recreate that recipe from Pinterest... didn't exactly nail it.
我试着还原Pinterest上的那个食谱……结果翻车了。
Intenté recrear esa receta de Pinterest… no me salió exactamente bien.
Pinterestで見たレシピを再現してみた…全然うまくいかなかったけど。
Pinterest에서 본 레시피를 따라 해봤는데... 전혀 안 됐어.
She nailed the audition and got the lead role.
她试镜表现完美，拿到了主角。
Ella clavó la audición y consiguió el papel principal.
彼女はオーディションをバッチリ決めて、主役を勝ち取った。
그녀는 오디션을 완벽하게 해내서 주연을 따냈어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: praise, accomplishment, sarcasm

Tone: praising or ironic

✓ Do Say

You nailed it!
你做得太棒了！
¡Lo has bordado!
You nailed it!
완벽했어!
I think I nailed that interview.
我觉得那场面试我发挥得不错。
Creo que la entrevista me ha salido clavada.
I think I nailed that interview.
면접 잘 본 것 같아.

✗ Don't Say

Context matters — 'nailed it' with a photo of a disaster is clearly sarcastic
语境很重要——配上一张翻车照片说'nailed it'明显是在反讽
El contexto importa: 'nailed it' con una foto de un desastre es claramente sarcástico
文脈が重要 — 大失敗の写真と一緒に「nailed it」と言えば、明らかに皮肉として伝わる
맥락이 중요하다 — 엉망인 사진과 함께 'nailed it'이라고 하면 분명히 비꼬는 것이다

Origin & History

American expression from carpentry — driving a nail perfectly. Used figuratively for perfect execution since the mid-20th century. Gained ironic/sarcastic usage through internet culture and the Netflix show 'Nailed It!' (2018).

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-20th century onwards, ironic use from 2010s

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal