pin verb

¹ fasten sth with a pin

ADV. carefully She carefully pinned the two pieces of cloth together. | firmly | back, on, together, up Her hair was pinned back. pictures pinned up on the walls

PREP. onto The poster had been pinned onto a large wooden board. | to Maps were pinned to the walls.

PHRASES pin sth in place

² hold sb in one position

ADV. helplessly | down He was pinned down on the floor.

PREP. against He pinned her against the wall. | behind His arms were pinned behind his back. | to She was pinned helplessly to the desk. PHRASAL VERBS pin sth down

ADV. precisely The difference between the two approaches is hard to pin down precisely.

VERB + PIN be difficult to, be hard to