pin down

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The phrase "pin down" is a verb that has a few meanings and uses in English. Let's break it down in a simple way.

Basic Meaning:

1. To attach or hold something in place: Just like using a pin to keep something from moving, you can "pin down" an idea or a situation to make it clear.
2. To define or clarify something: If you "pin down" a concept, you make it easy to understand.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "pin down" when you want to talk about making something clear or when you are trying to fix something in place, either literally or figuratively.

Examples:

• Literal Use: "I need to pin down this poster on the wall so it doesn't fall off."
• Figurative Use: "Can you pin down the rules for this game? I’m a bit confused."

Advanced Usage:

• In more complex situations, you might use "pin down" when discussing ideas or plans. For example: "We need to pin down the details of the project before the meeting."

Word Variants:

• The noun form is "pinning down," which refers to the act of clarifying or securing something. For example: "The pinning down of the project details took a lot of time."

Different Meanings:

• To place someone in a difficult situation: "The interview questions really pinned him down, and he struggled to answer."
• To limit options: "I can’t pin down my choices for vacation; there are too many great places to visit!"

Synonyms:

• Clarify
• Define
• Fix
• Determine
• Identify

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Pin someone down": This means to force someone to provide a clear answer or decision. For example: "The reporter tried to pin the politician down on his stance about the issue."
• "Narrow down": This means to reduce the number of options or possibilities. Example: "We need to narrow down our choices for the vacation to just two destinations."

Summary:

To "pin down" something means to make it clear, fix it in place, or to put someone in a position where they must respond clearly.

Academic

Verb

1. attach with or as if with a pin
   • pin up a picture
2. place in a confining or embarrassing position
   • He was trapped in a difficult situation
3. define clearly
   • I cannot narrow down the rules for this game

Synonyms

• pin up
• trap
• peg down
• nail down
• narrow down
• narrow
• specify