Comment from Shirley McLain

Excellent

Thank you for explaining "In the nick of time." I've used it my entire life, and so did my parents. I'm sure they had no idea why and how it came about and neither did I. You did a great job, as usual. Have a wonderful evening. Shirley

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2022

Thanks so much for your review and comments. I always think of that phrase when I'm watching a TV mystery. I remember in the early James Bond movies he even saved the world at the last minute. judi

Comment from Judy Lawless

Excellent

Thanks for pointing out the interesting places where 'in the nick of time' might have been used, in sports, in movies, in mystery books, judi. It was a fun read and a great addition to the book Idioms Explained.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2022

Thanks so much for your review and comments. Since I watch a lot of TV shows about the police of a private detective, I'm aften thinking they arrive in the nick of time. judi

reply by Judy Lawless on 31-Oct-2022

You?re most welcome, Judi.

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

This essay comes in the nick of time, or I may have read someone else's article. I enjoyed your review of all of these characters and shows while ferreting out a definition.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2022

Thanks for your review and comments. I'm always repeating that phrase when I'm watching a TV show and help always arrives in the nick of time. judi

Comment from Brett Matthew West

Excellent

Goes to show through various examples the meanings of a word can change over the course of time and what happens in the current social world.

Television, and movies, often provide different meanings of words than their original intention was.

Suppose it helps to keep the English language interesting.

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2022

Thanks for your review and comments. I always think of "in the nick of time" when I'm watching a TV show in which the Private Eye comes to the rescue at the last minute. judi

Comment from royowen

Excellent

Yes, if one watches the police shows in Britain, say "You're nicked!" Then, of course, if one is incarcerated, they are in the nick. Beautifully written, you are very knowledgeable dear Judi, and I really enjoyed this post. Beautifully written, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 31-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 31-Oct-2022

Thanks for your review and comments. I think I've read about the use of "nick" referring to prison or to a felon being caught and getting "nicked." judi

reply by royowen on 31-Oct-2022

That?s it Judi,

Comment from pome lover

Excellent

you are truly a font of information.
I am familiar with "in the nick of time", except not in the Shakespearean context, being in the right place at the right time. Well, yes, that one, too - if "Boy, I made it in the nick of time," counts. Maybe not. However, it's
always fun learning something from you.
Katharine

 Comment Written 30-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 30-Oct-2022

Thanks so much for your review and great comments. I'm always saying the detective came to the rescue of his client just in time. Like in the westerns, you always count on the cavalry coming to the rescue. judi

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Exceptional

Thank you for sharing this with us. You gave me an education. At dinner last night my husband and I were looking up the meaning for an idiom, 'neither hide nor hair'. We had no clue where it came from. It seems it's old English.

 Comment Written 30-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 30-Oct-2022

Thanks for your review and comments, and special thanks for the shiny one. I'll have to get onto "neither hide nor hair." I've heard that expression used frequently. judi

Comment from BethShelby

Excellent

Idioms ar fun and something we all use and likly don't consider why we say it or how it first came to be. I had no idea that it could be associated with a person's name. I learn something new everyday on this site.

 Comment Written 30-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 30-Oct-2022

Thanks for your review and comments. I've found that when I look something up I'm likely to find other interesting information I want to pursue. Hope you're having a great Sunday. judi

Comment from Susan Newell

Excellent

Judi,

This is an interesting explanation of how we came to use the expression "in the nick of time." I would buy the etymology of nick being a derivation of the French niche. It makes sense that a small window of time could be parallel to a small nook in the other three dimensions. Well done.

Sue

 Comment Written 30-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 30-Oct-2022

Thanks so much for your review and comments. That is a phrase we use so often. From what I could gather, the exact origins of it aren't too clear. I do like to think of it in connection with the detective shows I watch. judi

reply by Susan Newell on 30-Oct-2022

You are most welcome, Judi.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

A well researched post Judi and I enjoyed learning about the origins of this word. We also used the word (nick) to describe something that has been stolen from us. They (nicked) all the stationery from the cupboard! A fun post, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 30-Oct-2022

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reply by the author on 30-Oct-2022

Thanks so much for your review and comments. I have read of nick being used to represent something that's been stolen. Hope you are having a great Sunday. judi

reply by Dolly'sPoems on 30-Oct-2022

Yes Judi, it has been a busy day and I have enjoyed it, enjoy the rest of yours, love Dolly x