alpha minus
chiefly British
noun
An academic mark in the lower range of the first class, one approaching the first class.
adjective
Nearly excellent or first-rate.
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Blackwood's Magazine.
- nail one's colours to the mast
- nail (or pin) one's colours to the mast
- nail parer
- nail-paring
- nail-passer
- nail-plate
- nail polish
- nail polisher
- nail polish remover
- nail punch
- nailrod
- nail scissors
- Nailsea
- nail set
- nail-sick
- nail sickness
- nail someone down
- nail something down
- nail-tailed wallaby
- nailtail wallaby
- nail varnish
- nail varnish remover
- nail violin
- nailwort
- nail wrap