What it means
A proper multi-use bit of Brit slang. To nick something is to steal it, usually something quick and cheeky. The nick is the police station, and if you’re in the nick you’ve been banged up. Then there’s in good nick, meaning something’s in decent condition. Same word, three lives, so listen for the context.
Usage examples
"Someone’s nicked my bike outside the offie and I’m fuming. My mate goes, You did lock it, yeah? I go, Nah."
"Someone nicked my umbrella from the office again."
"The car's old but it's in good nick, runs like a dream."
"Don’t leave your phone on the pub table, someone’ll nick it in two seconds flat."
"Yeah, it’s a bit battered round the edges, but the jacket’s still in good nick."
Where it comes from
This one’s properly old-school English. The verb nick has been around since the 16th century with senses like making a notch, cutting, or snatching. From that, British slang grew a few branches: to nick meaning steal, get nicked meaning get caught, and the nick for the police station or cells. In good nick kept the older idea of something being sound and tidy.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
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