2pin verb
pins; pinned; pin·ning always followed by an adverb or preposition [+ obj] 1 : to fasten or attach (something) with a pin
▪ She pinned a rose to her dress. ▪ The general pinned the medal on the soldier. ▪ She pinned up/back her hair. ▪ He pinned a sign on the wall. 2 : to prevent or stop (someone or something) from moving by holding or pressing firmly against something
▪ The passengers were pinned under the wreckage. ▪ The guards pinned his arms to his sides. ▪ She was pinned against the side of the car. ▪ The police officers pinned the suspect down (on the ground). — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The soldiers were pinned down by enemy fire. [=the soldiers were unable to move because they were being shot at by the enemy]
▪ She pinned a rose to her dress. ▪ The general pinned the medal on the soldier. ▪ She pinned up/back her hair. ▪ He pinned a sign on the wall.
▪ The passengers were pinned under the wreckage. ▪ The guards pinned his arms to his sides. ▪ She was pinned against the side of the car. ▪ The police officers pinned the suspect down (on the ground). — sometimes used figuratively ▪ The soldiers were pinned down by enemy fire. [=the soldiers were unable to move because they were being shot at by the enemy]
pin down [phrasal verb] 1 pin (someone) down : to cause or force (someone) to make a definite statement or decision about something
▪ Reporters tried to pin him down on the specific changes he wants to make to the tax laws. ▪ He talked in a general way, but they couldn't pin him down to specifics. 2 pin down (something) or pin (something) down : to find out (something) with certainty
▪ Can you pin down when the change occurred? ▪ I'm trying to pin down [=identify] the source of the problem.
▪ Reporters tried to pin him down on the specific changes he wants to make to the tax laws. ▪ He talked in a general way, but they couldn't pin him down to specifics.
▪ Can you pin down when the change occurred? ▪ I'm trying to pin down [=identify] the source of the problem.
pin on [phrasal verb] 1 pin (something) on (someone) : to say that (something) was done or caused by (someone)
▪ The police pinned the robbery on the night watchman. ▪ He always manages to pin [=fasten] the blame on someone else. 2 pin (all) your hopes on (something) : to hope very much that (something) will help you or allow you to succeed
▪ Many cancer patients are pinning their hopes on a new drug that is now being developed. ▪ You shouldn't pin all your hopes on getting the job.
▪ The police pinned the robbery on the night watchman. ▪ He always manages to pin [=fasten] the blame on someone else.
▪ Many cancer patients are pinning their hopes on a new drug that is now being developed. ▪ You shouldn't pin all your hopes on getting the job.
