General
nick
What does nick mean?
British slang for prison — 'in the nick' means doing time. Equally used for a police station, which is where you usually go first on your way to the other one. Staple of every UK crime drama from The Sweeney to Line of Duty.
"He did three years in the nick for handling stolen gear."
Origin
British English, prison/police sense recorded from the 19th century. Possibly from older 'nick' meaning to catch or trap.
Frequently asked questions
What does nick mean in British slang?
It's British slang for prison or a police station.
How do you use nick in a sentence?
"They took him down the nick for questioning."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
