Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

drive a nail where it will go

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.15 in modern English

Syllables: drive a -nail where it will -go
IPA

37

Scrabble Score

23

Letters

3

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To take a pragmatic or expedient approach, rather than the ideal.

Archaic

Example Sentences

""Well, I think East is right," said Arthur; "I can't see but what it's right to do the best you can, though it mayn't be the best absolutely. Every man isn't born to be a martyr." "Of course, of course," said East; "but he's on one of his pet hobbies. — How often have I told you, Tom, that you must drive a nail where it'll go.""

Usage

Archaic

Inflected Forms

drives a nail where it will go (present, singular) driving a nail where it will go (participle, present) drove a nail where it would go (past) driven a nail where it would go (participle, past)

Questions

What does drive a nail where it will go mean?: To take a pragmatic or expedient approach, rather than the ideal.

How to pronounce drive a nail where it will go

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “drive a nail where it will go”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “drive a nail where it will go”.
Repeat and practice — Say “drive a nail where it will go” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.