nails on the wall vs nails in the wall

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Nails on the wall' refers to nails that are physically resting on the surface of the wall, while 'nails in the wall' indicates that the nails are embedded or fixed inside the wall.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 2450 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to nails that are physically resting on the surface of the wall.

"nails on the wall"

This phrase is used when you want to describe the position of nails that are placed on the surface of the wall, rather than being embedded inside it.

Examples:

She hung the picture frame using nails on the wall.
There were several nails on the wall holding up the shelves.
The hammer and nails on the wall were used for DIY projects.
The painting was secured with nails on the wall.
He noticed the rusty nails on the wall of the old house.

Show examples from the web [+]

In order to keep the dogs still while this is done, they are hung from a nail on the wall, without anaesthetic.
He fell backward... and there was a nail in the wall.
I say we nail winger to the wall.
Before you even hammer a nail in the wall, you have to ask me first.
The hangman went home drove a nail into the wall and did what he did best.
KATE: We can nail him to the wall with this stuff.
Half the Senate Committee wants to nail you to the wall.
You drove a nail in the wall and knocked my mirror down
I'll nail to the wall, I'll make him rot in chains.
l nail them to the walls, but l mustn't drink schnapps.
Like for my nails... the walls... my anger.
Mark my words, I'll have her hide and nail it to the wall for killing my son.
I could, like, bang a nail into that wall with my gaze.
Look, I guess someone could have walked in here And hung my doll and painted the walls In nail polish to make it look like blood,
Just be careful if you're putting nails in that wall, Amos, 'cause the last time Graeme tried to put a shelf up in here, - he actually hit a power cable.
An example: A consumer uses a hammer to knock a nail into a wall.
Do you want to hold on to all of our old stuff, or do you want to nail Card to the wall?
You want to nail someone to the wall just to have someone nailed there, Or do you want the person responsible to pay?
The hammer head breaks when the user tries to knock a nail into a wall because the material of the hammer head is too weak.
The following example of a hammer head that breaks when the user knocks a nail into a wall should illustrate how to assign a probability to each step, and how to classify overall probability:

Alternatives:

nails resting on the wall
nails placed on the wall
nails attached to the wall
nails hanging on the wall
nails positioned on the wall

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to nails that are embedded or fixed inside the wall.

"nails in the wall"

Use this phrase when you want to describe nails that are inserted into the wall, rather than being placed on its surface.

Examples:

The painting was secured with nails in the wall.
He hammered the nails in the wall to hang the mirror.
The nails in the wall were hidden behind the wallpaper.
The shelf was sturdy with nails in the wall for support.
The construction crew hammered the nails in the wall to secure the beams.

Show examples from the web [+]

He fell backward... and there was a nail in the wall.
Before you even hammer a nail in the wall, you have to ask me first.
You drove a nail in the wall and knocked my mirror down
I say we nail winger to the wall.
The hangman went home drove a nail into the wall and did what he did best.
In order to keep the dogs still while this is done, they are hung from a nail on the wall, without anaesthetic.
Just be careful if you're putting nails in that wall, Amos, 'cause the last time Graeme tried to put a shelf up in here, - he actually hit a power cable.
KATE: We can nail him to the wall with this stuff.
Half the Senate Committee wants to nail you to the wall.
I'll nail to the wall, I'll make him rot in chains.
l nail them to the walls, but l mustn't drink schnapps.
Like for my nails... the walls... my anger.
Mark my words, I'll have her hide and nail it to the wall for killing my son.
I could, like, bang a nail into that wall with my gaze.
Look, I guess someone could have walked in here And hung my doll and painted the walls In nail polish to make it look like blood,
An example: A consumer uses a hammer to knock a nail into a wall.
Do you want to hold on to all of our old stuff, or do you want to nail Card to the wall?
You want to nail someone to the wall just to have someone nailed there, Or do you want the person responsible to pay?
The hammer head breaks when the user tries to knock a nail into a wall because the material of the hammer head is too weak.
The following example of a hammer head that breaks when the user knocks a nail into a wall should illustrate how to assign a probability to each step, and how to classify overall probability:

Alternatives:

nails embedded in the wall
nails fixed in the wall
nails inserted in the wall
nails driven into the wall
nails secured in the wall

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nails on the wall vs nails in the wall

"nails on the wall"

"nails in the wall"

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