Brewer, E. Cobham. Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Nail in One’s Coffin.

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Nail fixed in the Temple (of Jupiter).

Nail One’s Colours to the Mast (To).

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E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.

Nail in One’s Coffin.

To drive a nail into one’s coffin. To shorten life by anxiety, drink, etc. Topers call a dram “a nail in their coffin,” in jocular allusion to the teetotal axiom.

“Care to our coffin adds a nail, no doubt;

But every grin so merry draws one out.”

Peter Pindar (John Wolcot): Expostulatory

Odes, Ode xv.

Nail fixed in the Temple (of Jupiter).

Nail One’s Colours to the Mast (To).

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