has been nicked

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been nicked" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It means that something has been stolen. For example: "My bike has been nicked. I hope they find who did it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

They miss Cam Barker on defense more than they probably thought they would, because his replacement, Kim Johnsson, has been nicked up since he arrived from Minnesota.

The New York Times - Sports

Chortle reports that the standup comic Matt Kirshen claims one of his jokes has been nicked by an ad campaign for Old Jamaica Ginger Beer.

The Guardian

When Theodor realises his compass has been nicked by tribal children, he's about to resort to violence to get it back.

The Guardian - Film

You must keep the pressure constant for at least four (4) minutes if it's a small wound, more if a larger wound, particularly if a vein or artery has been nicked or severed.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

(Jihadi John, he has been nick-named in the British press, which to me seems offensively perky).

The Guardian - Opinion

Raza blames far-right groups for several myths surrounding the project, which has been nick-named a megamosque or supermosque.

The Guardian

Where we've also been good in the past has been nicking three points here or a drop-goal there and forcing others to play catch-up.

The Guardian - Sport

Now, every "splash" — a tabloid's Page 1 story — is assumed to have been "nicked," or stolen, by a hacked phone or other illicit means.

The New York Times

One of her ureters, the ducts that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder, had been nicked; urine was leaking into her abdomen.

The New Yorker

"We had these dreadful secondhand cars that would always die a death, or we'd go on holiday to Cornwall, come back and it would have been nicked.

The Guardian - Opinion

The magazine would survive for a few more years, but its identity had crumbled, in part because so many aspects of it had been nicked by others.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been nicked" when you want to convey that something has been stolen in a casual or informal way, particularly if the item is of little value or the theft is not very serious.

Common error

Avoid using "has been nicked" in formal or professional contexts where more direct language like "has been stolen" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been nicked" functions as a passive construction indicating that a subject has been stolen. It's the present perfect passive form of the verb "nick", meaning to steal. Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been nicked" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something has been stolen in a fairly informal context. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English. It is most frequently encountered in news articles and other media, as well as on sites such as WikiHow. While its meaning is clear, it is best to avoid using "has been nicked" in professional or very formal situations and to utilize alternatives like "has been stolen" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been stolen

Replaces "nicked" with a more common synonym for 'stolen'.

has been pilfered

Substitutes "nicked" with a slightly more formal synonym suggesting petty theft.

has been swiped

Replaces "nicked" with a more informal synonym.

has been lifted

Uses a synonym for stolen, common in British English.

has been appropriated

Replaces "nicked" with a more formal term suggesting unauthorized taking.

has been taken

Uses a general term for something being removed without permission.

has been filched

Substitutes "nicked" with a somewhat old-fashioned synonym for 'stolen'.

has been snatched

Replaces "nicked" with a more forceful term suggesting a quick theft.

has been plagiarized

Replaces "nicked" with a term specific to stealing intellectual property.

has been damaged

Shifts the meaning from theft to general harm or impairment.

FAQs

What does "has been nicked" mean?

The phrase "has been nicked" means that something has been stolen. It's a more informal way of saying "has been stolen".

What can I say instead of "has been nicked"?

You can use alternatives like "has been stolen", "has been pilfered", or "has been swiped" depending on the context.

Is "has been nicked" formal or informal?

"Has been nicked" is considered an informal expression. It's best suited for casual conversation or writing. Use more formal alternatives like "has been stolen" in professional or academic settings.

Where might I encounter the phrase "has been nicked"?

You're most likely to find the phrase "has been nicked" in news articles, blog posts, or casual conversations, particularly in British English. It's less common in formal documents or academic writing.