coffin nail
1
9.6
- noun
- /ˈkɔfɪn neɪl/
- Archaic
- The doctor warned him that every coffin nail reduces his life expectancy.
Examples
-
He stepped outside to have a quick coffin nail during the break.
-
I can't believe you still smoke those coffin nails!
-
Back in the day, people used to light up a coffin nail almost anywhere.
-
He lit a coffin nail after dinner.
-
The doctor warned him that every coffin nail reduces his life expectancy.
-
I can't believe you still smoke those coffin nails!
-
He stepped outside to have a quick coffin nail during the break.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A thin roll of tobacco wrapped in paper that you smoke
14
8.2
A short thin tube of tobacco that people smoke
11
9.9
A British informal word for a cigarette
2
1.8
A thin roll of tobacco wrapped in paper that you smoke
1
9.9
A cigarette that is strong or harsh to smoke
Surface Forms
Morphology
coffin + nail
The headword 'coffin' clearly evokes death, which gives a partial clue that the compound refers to something associated with causing death or harm; however, nothing in the literal meanings of 'coffin' + 'nail' uniquely identifies 'a cigarette'. Recognizing it as a cigarette requires cultural/idiomatic knowledge (smoking as a ‘cause of the coffin’), so the connection is suggestive but not fully predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Coffin nail may come from the nails used to close a coffin. The image is of a small nail that helps close a coffin, so it stands for something that makes death more likely. That's why coffin nail means 'cigarette' and carries the idea of helping someone 'to die'.