Nickel is a metal that looks shiny and silver. People use it to make coins and mix with other metals to make strong materials.
This spoon is made of nickel metal.
Nickel is often used to make strong steel.
A nickel is a small coin worth five cents. People use it to buy things in the USA and Canada.
I have a nickel in my pocket.
She paid five cents with a nickel.
To nickel someone means to ask for five cents or a small extra amount of money. It is often used when small charges add up.
They nickeled me for the extra bag.
Don’t nickel the customer for small things.
To nickel means to steal small things or take small amounts of money from others. It is often used to say someone is taking little amounts many times.
He nickeled small items from the store.
They nickel and dime the customers a lot.
Nickel can be used as a thin cover on other metals. This cover protects the metal or makes it look shiny.
The watch has a shiny nickel coating.
Nickel plating stops metal from rusting.
Nickel can mean a very small cost or a small problem, often not important. People use it to talk about little things with little money.
Don’t worry about that nickel cost.
It’s just a nickel problem, nothing big.
To nickel on someone means to tell the police about their bad actions. It is a slang word often used in crime contexts.
He nickeled on his friends to the police.
Don’t nickel or tell on me, please.
