The firefighters extinguished the fire in the nick of time.

Meaning: The firefighters stopped the fire just before it could cause any more damage.

Choice of Words: Extinguished means to put out a fire or stop it from burning. Nick means a very short period of time. Time is the period during which something happens or exists.

Alternative Expressions

The firefighters put out the fire just in time.

Meaning: This means that the firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading or causing any more damage.

Choice of Words: Firefighters are people whose job it is to put out fires. Put out means to stop something from burning or to make it go away. Just in time means that something happened at the very last moment before it was too late.

The firemen extinguished the blaze in the eleventh hour.

Meaning: This means that the firefighters were able to put out the fire just before it caused any serious damage.

Choice of Words: Firemen is another word for firefighters. Extinguished means to put out a fire or to make it go away. Blaze is a big fire. Eleventh hour means the very last moment before it is too late.

The fire crew doused the conflagration in the nick of time.

Meaning: This means that the firefighters were able to put out the fire just before it caused any serious damage.

Choice of Words: Fire crew is another word for firefighters. Doused means to pour water or other liquid on something to put out a fire. Conflagration is a large and destructive fire. Nick of time means the very last moment before it is too late.

Related Expressions