J -Idioms
a jack-of-all-trades
- a person who can do many things
We gave the man a job because we needed a jack-of-all-trades to look after the many repairs.
jack up (something)
- raise prices, raise something with a lifting device
The gas station jacked up their prices during the snow storm.
We jacked up the car so we could change the tire.
jam on the brakes
- quickly put the brakes on in a car to stop
He jammed on the brakes and was able to avoid hitting the child.
jam-packed
- crowded, full
The train that we took this morning was jam-packed with people.
to jazz up (something)
- brighten up something, add more noise/movement/color to something
They jazzed up the community center for the party tonight.
Jekyll and Hyde
- someone with both an evil and a good personality
My co-worker is like Jekyll and Hyde. One minute he is very friendly but the next minute he is angry.
jockey for position
- try to push one's way into an advantageous position
Several of the salesmen began to jockey for position when they learned that the director of sales was leaving.
jog (someone's) memory
- stimulate someone's memory to recall something
The questions that the police officer asked helped to jog the man's memory.
John Doe
- a name used for an unknown/average person
The application forms use the name "John Doe" as the name of a person who is applying for something.
John Henry/John Hancock
- one's signature
"Please sign your John Henry here and we will process your order right away."
Johnny-come-lately
- a new-comer
He`s a Johnny-come-lately and doesn`t really know what he is talking about.
Johnny-on-the-spot
- someone who is at the right place when needed or is right on time
He is always Johnny-on-the-spot. Just when we need him he arrives.
join forces (with someone)
- unite/join with someone
The two high schools joined forces to try and raise money for the city library expansion.
join hands
- hold hands with other people
Everybody in the group joined hands at the end of the meeting.
Join the club!
- an expression used when the other person is in the same situation (usually bad) as the speaker
"Join the club. None of us have enough money to go on a holiday."
join the fray
- join a fight or argument
I did not want to join the fray and argue with the other members of the group.
jolt to a stop
- stop moving suddenly which causes a jolt
The train jolted to a stop when the engineer put the brakes on.
judge (someone or something) on its own merits
- judge or evaluate someone or something on its own good points and achievements
Our company always judges each employee on his or her own merits.
judging by (something)
- considering something
Judging by the weather, I don't think that we will be able to go to the festival today.
jump Idioms
jump all over (someone)
- criticize/scold/blame someone
As soon as I began to talk about my plans for the summer my boss jumped all over me.
jump at (something)
- seize the opportunity to do something
He jumped at the chance to go to France on company business.
jump bail
- run away and fail to come to trial and therefore give up the money that you have already paid to the court
The man jumped bail and went to live in a foreign country.
jump down (someone`s) throat
- criticize or become angry with someone
As soon as I reached the office my boss jumped down my throat over the missing file.
jump on (someone)
- scold/criticize/blame someone
Everybody jumped on the supervisor because they were angry about the new schedules.
jump/climb/get on the bandwagon
- join a popular activity/campaign
Everybody jumped on the bandwagon to try and stop smoking in the workplace.
jump out of one`s skin
- be badly frightened
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the man at the window.
jump the gun
- start before you should
He jumped the gun and started selling the tickets before he should have.
jump the track
- jump off the rails, change suddenly from one thing to another
The train jumped the track near the edge of the town.
jump through a hoop
- do whatever one is told to do, obey any order
He is always ready to jump through a hoop for his boss so he is not very popular with the other employees.
jump to conclusions
- make a quick conclusion without thinking about it
"Please don`t jump to conclusions over who broke the computer."
jumping-off place/point
- the starting place of a long trip, start of something
We gathered early in the morning at the jumping-off place for our hike to the mountains.
.
the jury is still out (on someone or something)
- have not decided about something
For myself, the jury is still out on whether or not it will be a good idea to look for a new job.
just Idioms
just about
- nearly, almost
I waited just about one hour before the concert started.
just in case (something happens)
- if something happens
I plan to take my umbrella just in case it rains today.
just now
- this very moment, almost at this moment
The accident happened just now. The police haven`t even arrived yet.
just one of those things
- something that you really can't do anything about
The fact that I failed the driver's test was just one of those things and there is nothing that I can do about it.
just so
- done with great care, done very carefully
She always makes sure that her hair is just so before she goes out.
just the same
- nevertheless
I told her not to come early but just the same she came early anyway.
just what the doctor ordered
- exactly what is needed or wanted
Having the extra day off from work was just what the doctor ordered and I was able to get many things done.
- a person who can do many things
We gave the man a job because we needed a jack-of-all-trades to look after the many repairs.
jack up (something)
- raise prices, raise something with a lifting device
The gas station jacked up their prices during the snow storm.
We jacked up the car so we could change the tire.
jam on the brakes
- quickly put the brakes on in a car to stop
He jammed on the brakes and was able to avoid hitting the child.
jam-packed
- crowded, full
The train that we took this morning was jam-packed with people.
to jazz up (something)
- brighten up something, add more noise/movement/color to something
They jazzed up the community center for the party tonight.
Jekyll and Hyde
- someone with both an evil and a good personality
My co-worker is like Jekyll and Hyde. One minute he is very friendly but the next minute he is angry.
jockey for position
- try to push one's way into an advantageous position
Several of the salesmen began to jockey for position when they learned that the director of sales was leaving.
jog (someone's) memory
- stimulate someone's memory to recall something
The questions that the police officer asked helped to jog the man's memory.
John Doe
- a name used for an unknown/average person
The application forms use the name "John Doe" as the name of a person who is applying for something.
John Henry/John Hancock
- one's signature
"Please sign your John Henry here and we will process your order right away."
Johnny-come-lately
- a new-comer
He`s a Johnny-come-lately and doesn`t really know what he is talking about.
Johnny-on-the-spot
- someone who is at the right place when needed or is right on time
He is always Johnny-on-the-spot. Just when we need him he arrives.
join forces (with someone)
- unite/join with someone
The two high schools joined forces to try and raise money for the city library expansion.
join hands
- hold hands with other people
Everybody in the group joined hands at the end of the meeting.
Join the club!
- an expression used when the other person is in the same situation (usually bad) as the speaker
"Join the club. None of us have enough money to go on a holiday."
join the fray
- join a fight or argument
I did not want to join the fray and argue with the other members of the group.
jolt to a stop
- stop moving suddenly which causes a jolt
The train jolted to a stop when the engineer put the brakes on.
judge (someone or something) on its own merits
- judge or evaluate someone or something on its own good points and achievements
Our company always judges each employee on his or her own merits.
judging by (something)
- considering something
Judging by the weather, I don't think that we will be able to go to the festival today.
jump Idioms
jump all over (someone)
- criticize/scold/blame someone
As soon as I began to talk about my plans for the summer my boss jumped all over me.
jump at (something)
- seize the opportunity to do something
He jumped at the chance to go to France on company business.
jump bail
- run away and fail to come to trial and therefore give up the money that you have already paid to the court
The man jumped bail and went to live in a foreign country.
jump down (someone`s) throat
- criticize or become angry with someone
As soon as I reached the office my boss jumped down my throat over the missing file.
jump on (someone)
- scold/criticize/blame someone
Everybody jumped on the supervisor because they were angry about the new schedules.
jump/climb/get on the bandwagon
- join a popular activity/campaign
Everybody jumped on the bandwagon to try and stop smoking in the workplace.
jump out of one`s skin
- be badly frightened
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the man at the window.
jump the gun
- start before you should
He jumped the gun and started selling the tickets before he should have.
jump the track
- jump off the rails, change suddenly from one thing to another
The train jumped the track near the edge of the town.
jump through a hoop
- do whatever one is told to do, obey any order
He is always ready to jump through a hoop for his boss so he is not very popular with the other employees.
jump to conclusions
- make a quick conclusion without thinking about it
"Please don`t jump to conclusions over who broke the computer."
jumping-off place/point
- the starting place of a long trip, start of something
We gathered early in the morning at the jumping-off place for our hike to the mountains.
.
the jury is still out (on someone or something)
- have not decided about something
For myself, the jury is still out on whether or not it will be a good idea to look for a new job.
just Idioms
just about
- nearly, almost
I waited just about one hour before the concert started.
just in case (something happens)
- if something happens
I plan to take my umbrella just in case it rains today.
just now
- this very moment, almost at this moment
The accident happened just now. The police haven`t even arrived yet.
just one of those things
- something that you really can't do anything about
The fact that I failed the driver's test was just one of those things and there is nothing that I can do about it.
just so
- done with great care, done very carefully
She always makes sure that her hair is just so before she goes out.
just the same
- nevertheless
I told her not to come early but just the same she came early anyway.
just what the doctor ordered
- exactly what is needed or wanted
Having the extra day off from work was just what the doctor ordered and I was able to get many things done.
