English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - J,
from: 'jack of all trades'
to: 'jump the gun'
- jack of all trades
- A jack of all trades is a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them.
"I'm looking for a skilled worker, not a jack-of-all-trades."
- A jack of all trades is a person who can do many different things but is not very good at any one of them.
- jaw drops
- If someone's jaw drops, they show total amazement.
"When the prize was announced, the winner's jaw dropped.
- If someone's jaw drops, they show total amazement.
- jazz something up
- If you jazz something up, you add something to try to improve it or make it more stylish or exciting.
"The dress needs a scarf or a necklace to jazz it up."
"The chef decided to jazz up the fish with a spicy sauce."
- If you jazz something up, you add something to try to improve it or make it more stylish or exciting.
- je ne sais quoi
- This expression (in French: 'I don't know what') is used to refer to a good quality that is difficult to describe.
"The place has a certain 'je ne sais quoi'that makes it really attractive."
- This expression (in French: 'I don't know what') is used to refer to a good quality that is difficult to describe.
- get the jitters
- If you get (or have) the jitters, especially before an important event, you become very nervous or anxious and begin to shake.
"Some people get the jitters when they have to make a speech."
- If you get (or have) the jitters, especially before an important event, you become very nervous or anxious and begin to shake.
- jog someone's memory
- When you help someone to remember something they have forgotten, you jog their memory.
"You don't remember who was with us that day? Here's a photograph to jog your memory."
- When you help someone to remember something they have forgotten, you jog their memory.
- join the club!
- By saying to somebody 'join the club!', you express sympathy for an unpleasant experience that you have had too.
"Oh no! My wallet has been stolen." "Mine was stolen last week - join the club!"
- By saying to somebody 'join the club!', you express sympathy for an unpleasant experience that you have had too.
- (don't) judge by appearances
- This expression means that you should not form an opinion based on outward appearances only.
"Sophie looks self-confident but don't judge by appearances. She's actually shy."
- This expression means that you should not form an opinion based on outward appearances only.
- juggle frogs
- A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with many different tasks at the tame time and finding the situation difficult.
"I've got so many things to do at the moment, I feel like I'm juggling frogs!"
- A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with many different tasks at the tame time and finding the situation difficult.
- juggling act
- If you do a juggling act, you try to do different things in a way that is satisfactory for all concerned.
"For many women, managing a career and looking after a family can be quite a juggling act."
- If you do a juggling act, you try to do different things in a way that is satisfactory for all concerned.
- jump down someone's throat
- A person who jumps down someone’s throat unexpectedly reacts to something said or done in an angry, critical or aggressive manner,
or lashes out verbally at them.
"It’s just a suggestion. There’s no need to jump down my throat!"
- A person who jumps down someone’s throat unexpectedly reacts to something said or done in an angry, critical or aggressive manner,
or lashes out verbally at them.
- jump on bandwagon
- If a person or organisation jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable.
"When organic food became popular, certain stores were quick to jump on the bandwagon and promote it."
- If a person or organisation jumps on the bandwagon, they decide to do something when it is already successful or fashionable.
- jump to conclusions
- A person who jumps to conclusions reaches a decision or makes a judgement too fast, before taking the time to check out all the facts.
"We haven't got the full story yet so let's not jump to conclusions."
- A person who jumps to conclusions reaches a decision or makes a judgement too fast, before taking the time to check out all the facts.
- jump in the deep end
- When you jump in (or are thrown in) at the deep end, you do something without any help or preparation, in an area where you have little or no experience.
"Charlie got a job as a salesman, for which he had no training, so he just had to jump in at the deep end."
- When you jump in (or are thrown in) at the deep end, you do something without any help or preparation, in an area where you have little or no experience.
- jump the gun
- If you jump the gun, you do something too soon or take premature action based on incomplete information.
"Steve ordered a new car before the job was confirmed - now that's jumping the gun!"
- If you jump the gun, you do something too soon or take premature action based on incomplete information.
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