The precise moment when something happens just before it would be too late, emphasizing the narrowness of the timing.
The phrase dates to the 16th century, where 'nick' meant a precise moment or critical point, possibly from the practice of making nicks or notches to mark time or score. The expression evolved to emphasize the exactness and narrowness of successful timing.
The 'nick of time' originally related to physical scoring or notching, making it one of the few time expressions with a tactile origin. This connection between touch and time reflects how humans have always needed physical markers to understand abstract temporal concepts - from sundials to clock faces to calendar notches.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.