Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Chicken Sandwich's Avatar
    Chicken Sandwich is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Russian
      • Home Country:
      • Russian Federation
      • Current Location:
      • Netherlands
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,248

    Default To nick in behind everyone’s back

    Gareth: What do you think of her?
    Tim: A bit out of your league, mate.
    Ricky: Definitely out of your league.
    Gareth: No. Smug. You think you're so... just 'cause you got a bit of Donna because, I played by the rules 'cause she was out of bounds. You nicked in behind everyone’s back. I'd have got a bit if I'd known it was up for grabs. I'd have done her, but that would be shitting on your own doorstep.And anyway, I don't do sloppy seconds.
    This is a bit of dialogue from The Office (UK). "To nick" can mean "to steal", but why does he say "to nick in"? What does this mean?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    iKitty is offline Junior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • Great Britain
      • Current Location:
      • Great Britain
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    40

    Default Re: To nick in behind everyone’s back

    NOT A TEACHER

    Are you sure it's nick? Usually the phrase is nip in behind [someone's] back. Nip means to move quickly in this context.

  3. #3
    JohnParis's Avatar
    JohnParis is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • France
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    776

    Default Re: To nick in behind everyone’s back

    I think the author means "snuck" (the past tense of sneak) more than he means to use the literal meaning of nick (to steal).

    John

  4. #4
    Chicken Sandwich's Avatar
    Chicken Sandwich is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • Russian
      • Home Country:
      • Russian Federation
      • Current Location:
      • Netherlands
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,248

    Default Re: To nick in behind everyone’s back

    Quote Originally Posted by iKitty View Post
    NOT A TEACHER

    Are you sure it's nick? Usually the phrase is nip in behind [someone's] back. Nip means to move quickly in this context.
    You're right, it's "nip" not "nick". The English subtitles, from which I copied the phrase, were wrong.

Similar Threads

  1. In the nick of time.
    By RoseSpring in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-Dec-2010, 10:43
  2. Nick Cave - Dig Yourself
    By Waawe in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-Aug-2008, 21:33
  3. Draw back/Fall back/Back off?
    By sambistapt in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 24-Apr-2008, 19:46
  4. a nick of time
    By hector51 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 19-Jul-2006, 11:34

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1