J
Idioms beginning with "J"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of J:
[jack of all trades] {n.}, {informal} (Often followed by "master of none.")
A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and the intonation.
* /Peter is a jack of all trades; he […]
[jack up] {v.}
1. To lift with a jack.
The man jacked up his car to fit a flat tire.
2. {informal}
To make (a price) higher; raise.
Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices.
[jack-rabbit start] {n.}, {informal}
A very sudden start from a still position; a very fast start from a stop.
Bob made a jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green.
[jailbait] {n.}, {slang}
A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; one who tempts you to intimacy which is punishable by imprisonment.
Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait.
[jailbird] {n.}, {informal}
A convict; someone who is in jail or has been recently released from prison.
Because Harry was a jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being imprisoned.
[jake flake] {n.}, {slang}
A boring person whose company is usually not wanted.
Please don't invite Turner, he is a jake flake.
[jar on] {v. phr.}
To irritate.
The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting.
[jaw drop] or [jaw drop a mile] {informal}
Mouth fall wide open with surprise. — Used with a possessive.
Tom's jaw dropped a mile when he won the prize.
[jawbreaker] {n.}
1. A large piece of hard candy or bubblegum.
Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some jawbreakers and a chocolate bar.
2. [informal]
A word or name that is hard to pronounce.
* /His name, Nissequogue, is a real […]
[jaws tight] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal}
Angry; uptight; tense.
Why are you getting your jaws so tight?
[jazz up] {v.}, {slang}
To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting.
The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums.
[jerry-built] {adj.}
1. Built poorly or carelessly of cheap materials; easily broken.
That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in a strong wind.
2. Done without careful preparation or thought; planned too quickly.
* /When the regular television […]
[Jesus boots] or [Jesus shoes] {n.}, {slang}
Men's sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people.
I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool.
[jim-dandy] {n.}, {slang}
Something wonderful; something very good.
Tommy's new boat is really a jim-dandy! I wish I had one like it.
[Joe Doakes] {n.}
A name used informally for the average man.
Let us say that Joe Doakes goes to the movies three times a year.
Compare: [MAN IN THE STREET], [SO-AND-SO].
[John Doe] {n.}
A name used for an unknown person, especially in police and law business.
The alarm went out for a John Doe who stole the diamonds from the store.
[John Hancock] or [John Henry] {n.}, {informal}
Your signature; your name in writing.
The man said, "Put your John Hancock on this paper."
Joe felt proud when he put his John Henry on his very first driver's license.
[John Q. Public] {n.}
A name used informally for the average citizen.
It is John Q. Public's duty to vote at each election.
Compare: [JOE DOAKES].
[Johnny-come-lately] {n.}
Someone new in a place or group; newcomer; also: a new person who takes an active part in group affairs before the group has accepted him; upstart.
* /Everybody was amazed when a Johnny-come-lately beat the old favorite in the […]
[Johnny-on-the-spot] {adj. phr.}
At the right place when needed; present and ready to help; very prompt; on time.
A good waterboy is always Johnny-on-the-spot.
* /The firemen were Johnny-on-the-spot and put out the fire in the house soon after it […]
[join forces] or [join hands] {v. phr.}
To get together for the same aim; group together for a purpose; unite.
The students and the graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym burned down.
* /The American soldiers joined hands with the […]
[joking aside] or [joking apart] {v. phr.}, {informal}
No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously.
Joking aside, although the conditions were not very comfortable, we had a wonderful time.
* /Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred […]
[jot down] {v. phr.}
To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something.
Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe.
[judgment seat] {n.}
A place where you are judged; a place where justice and punishment are given out.
Mrs. Smith is so bossy, she always acts as though she is in the judgment seat.
[jug-eared] {adj.}
With ears that stick out like the handles of a jug.
Tommy was a redheaded, freckle-faced, jug-eared boy.
[juice dealer] {n.}, {slang}
An underworld money lender who charges exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently collects payment by physical force.
No matter how broke you are, never go to a juice dealer.
[jump]
See:
[GET THE JUMP ON] or [HAVE THE JUMP ON],
[GO JUMP IN THE LAKE],
[NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN] or [NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP].
[jump at] {v.}
To take or accept quickly and gladly.
Johnny jumped at the invitation to go swimming with his brother.
Compare: [TAKE UP] (7).
[jump bail] or [skip bail] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come.
* /The robber paid $2000 bail so he […]
[jump ball] {n.}
The starting of play in basketball by tossing the ball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps and tries to hit the ball to a member of his own team.
* /Two players held onto the ball at the same time and the […]
[jump down one's throat] {v. phr.}
To suddenly become very angry at someone; scold severely or angrily.
The teacher jumped down Billy's throat when Billy said he did not do his homework.
[jump from the frying pan into the fire]
See: [OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE].
[jump on] or [jump all over] or [land on] or [land all over] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To scold; criticize; blame.
Tom's boss jumped all over Tom because he made a careless mistake.
Janice landed on Robert for dressing carelessly for their date.
[…]
[jump on the bandwagon] or [get on the bandwagon] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To join a popular cause or movement.
At the last possible moment, the senator jumped on the winning candidate's bandwagon.
[jump out of one's skin] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To be badly frightened; be very much surprised.
The lightning struck so close to Bill that he almost jumped out of his skin.
Compare: [HAIR STAND ON END].
[jump pass] {n.}
A pass (as in football or basketball) made by a player while jumping.
The Bruins scored when the quarterback tossed a jump pass to the left end.
[jump the gun] also [beat the gun] {v. phr.}
1. To start before the starter's gun in a race.
The runners were called back because one of them jumped the gun.
2. {informal}
To start before you should; start before anyone else.
* /The new students […]
[jump the track] {v. phr.}
1. To go off rails; go or run the wrong way.
The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident.
The pulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother's washing fell down.
2. {informal}
To change from […]
[jump through a hoop] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To do whatever you are told to do; obey any order.
Bob would jump through a hoop for Mary.
Compare: [TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER], [UNDER ONE'S THUMB].
[jump to a conclusion] {v. phr.}
To decide too quickly or without thinking or finding the facts.
Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot.
Contrast: [LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP].
[jumping-off place] {n. phr.}
1. A place so far away that it seems to be the end of the world.
Columbus' sailors were afraid they would arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west.
* /So you visited Little America? That sounds like […]
[junked up] {adj.} or {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture}
To be under the influence of drugs, especially heroine.
You can't talk to Billy, he's all junked up.
[just about] {adv.}, {informal}
Nearly; almost; practically.
Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak.
The dress came down to just about the middle of her knee.
Has Mary finished peeling the potatoes? Just about.
[just for the fun of it] {adv. phr.}
Merely as a matter of amusement.
"I'll bring a goat to class," Bob said to his classmates, "just for the fun of it; I want to see what kind of a face Professor Brown will make."
[just in case] {adv. phr.}
For an emergency; in order to be protected.
"Here are my house keys. Sue," Tom said. "I'll be back in two weeks, but you should have them, just in case..."
See: [IN CASE].
[just now] {adv. phr.}
1. Just at this moment; at this time.
Mr. Johnson isn't here just now. Will you phone back later?
2. {informal}
A very short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while ago.
* /"Where could that boy have gone so […]
[just so] (1) {adj.}
Exact; exactly right.
Mrs. Robinson likes to keep her house just so, and she makes the children take off their shoes when they come in the house.
[just so] (2) {conj.}
Provided; if.
Take as much food as you want, just so you don't waste any food.
Syn.: [AS LONG AS] (2).
[just so] (3) {adv. phr.}
With great care; very carefully.
In order to raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so.
[just the other way] or [the other way around] {adv. phr.}
Just the opposite.
One would have thought that Goliath would defeat David, but it was the other way around.
[just what the doctor ordered] {n. phr.}, {informal}
Exactly what is needed or wanted.
"Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!" exclaimed Joe when Mary brought him a cold soda.