CRUCIAL
ADJECTIVES
► SHOWDOWN crucial, determining → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
NOUNS
► CRUNCH TIME a crucial or decisive stage in a process or undertaking → 1933
► MONEY a crucial element → 1960 Amer. sl.
► NICK a crucial moment → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► NICK OF TIME a crucial moment → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► NITTY-GRITTY, THE the most crucial or basic aspects of something → 1963 sl., orig. US
► SCRATCH, THE a crucial moment → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► TIME OF NICK a crucial moment → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► ZERO HOUR a crucial moment → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
PHRASES
► WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN applied to a crucial or decisive moment → 1945 sl., orig. US
Lexicophilia 