Phrase guide

another nail in someone's coffin

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Following the divorce and the lawsuit, bankruptcy is just another nail in his coffin.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: újabb szög valakinek a koporsójába (n) — one in a series of factors which lead, or purport to lead, to downfall
  • Polish: gwóźdź do trumny — one in a series of factors which lead, or purport to lead, to downfall
  • Portuguese: mais um prego no caixão (de) — one in a series of factors which lead, or purport to lead, to downfall
  • Swedish: ännu en spik i kistan — one in a series of factors which lead, or purport to lead, to downfall
  • Swedish: ytterligare en spik i kistan — one in a series of factors which lead, or purport to lead, to downfall