Commonly-Used Idioms, Sayings and phrasal verbs - "J" Idioms pptx

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 bail - run away and fail to

J

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)

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