Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
doornail
noun
/ˈdɔrnˌneɪl/
Definition
A doornail is a large nail used for securing doors, typically hammered into the door frame.
Examples
- After the storm, the old windmill stood still, dead as a doornail.
- He joked that the project was dead as a doornail without proper funding.
- Many old doors still have original doornails holding them together.
Meaning
The term often appears in the phrase ‘dead as a doornail,’ implying something that is lifeless or inactive.
Synonyms
- nail
- fastener
- peg
