jig

[ jig ]

/ dʒɪg /

noun

a rapid, lively, springy, irregular dance for one or more persons, usually in triple meter.

a piece of music for or in the rhythm of such a dance.

Obsolete. prank; trick.

verb (used with object), jigged, jig·ging.

to dance (a jig or any lively dance).

to sing or play in the time or rhythm of a jig: to jig a tune.

to move with a jerky or bobbing motion; jerk up and down or to and fro.

verb (used without object), jigged, jig·ging.

to dance or play a jig.

to move with a quick, jerky motion; hop; bob.

Idioms for jig

in jig time, Informal. with dispatch; rapidly: We sorted the mail in jig time.

the jig is up, Slang. it is hopeless; no chance remains: When the burglar heard the police siren, he knew the jig was up.

Origin of jig

1550–60; in earliest sense “kind of dance” perhaps < Middle French giguer to frolic, gambol, probably < an unattested WGmc verb (cf. gig¹); semantic development of other senses unclear

OTHER WORDS FROM jig

jig·like, jig·gish, adjective

Words nearby jig

jictar, jidda, jiddah, jiffy, jiffy bag, jig, jig back, jig is up, jigaboo, jigawa, jigger

British Dictionary definitions for jig is up

jig

/ (dʒɪɡ) /

noun

any of several old rustic kicking and leaping dances

a piece of music composed for or in the rhythm of this dance, usually in six-eight time

a mechanical device designed to hold and locate a component during machining and to guide the cutting tool

angling any of various spinning lures that wobble when drawn through the water

Also called: jigger mining a device for separating ore or coal from waste material by agitation in water

obsolete a joke or prank

verb jigs, jigging or jigged

to dance (a jig)

to jerk or cause to jerk up and down rapidly

(often foll by up) to fit or be fitted in a jig

(tr) to drill or cut (a workpiece) in a jig

mining to separate ore or coal from waste material using a jig

(intr) to produce or manufacture a jig

Australian slang to play truant from school

Word Origin for jig

C16 (originally: a dance or the music for it; applied to various modern devices because of the verbal sense: to jerk up and down rapidly): of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases with jig is up

jig is up

see game is up.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jig

noun

verb (used with object), jigged, jig·ging.

verb (used without object), jigged, jig·ging.

Idioms for jig

Origin of jig

OTHER WORDS FROM jig

Words nearby jig

British Dictionary definitions for jig is up

noun

verb jigs, jigging or jigged

Word Origin for jig

Idioms and Phrases with jig is up

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

jig

noun

verb (used with object), jigged, jig·ging.

verb (used without object), jigged, jig·ging.

Idioms for jig

Origin of jig

OTHER WORDS FROM jig

Words nearby jig

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noun

verb jigs, jigging or jigged

Word Origin for jig

Idioms and Phrases with jig is up

British Dictionary definitions for jig is up