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The J drawer
23 phrases beginning with J.
- Ja well no fine A formula expressing resigned acceptance, hesitation or noncommittal acknowledgement: roughly, well then, that's how it is. Very informal and often…
- Jack of all trades Someone skilled in many areas but not a master of any, versatile yet shallow.
- Jack of all trades, master of none Someone able to turn a hand to many things but expert at none of them. The shorter 'jack of all trades' can be neutral or admiring praise for…
- Janus-faced Two-faced - serving opposite sides at once, or showing one smiling face to each audience while hiding the connection. Less often it is neutral…
- Je ne sais quoi An elusive, hard-to-describe quality that makes someone or something distinctive and appealing, almost always in a positive way. It is a slightly…
- Jerusalem cricket A large, wingless, mostly nocturnal burrowing insect known for its rounded humanlike head and banded abdomen; despite the name, it is not a true…
- Jobs for the boys Paid positions, contracts or other benefits handed out on the basis of friendship, loyalty or party connection rather than merit; patronage for…
- Joie de vivre A keen, buoyant enjoyment of being alive; exuberant delight in living and in life's small pleasures. It is a literary, admiring loanword, usually…
- JOMO Acronym for 'joy of missing out': the pleasure of skipping an event, staying in, or unplugging from social media without feeling anxious about what…
- Jovial Cheerful and good-humoured - hearty, merry, quick to laugh. The word describes a whole settled temperament rather than a passing mood, and it still…
- Juggernaut A huge, unstoppable force or enterprise that sweeps aside whatever blocks it, whether a campaign, a movement, or a machine. Neutral-to-negative in…
- Jump down someone's throat React suddenly and angrily to someone, usually by criticizing, scolding or rejecting what they have said before giving them a fair hearing. The…
- Jump on the bandwagon To join a popular trend, movement, or opinion, often for convenience or gain rather than genuine belief, implying a lack of originality. It suggests…
- Jump on the gravy train Join or exploit a situation that offers easy money, benefits or advancement, often with a suggestion of opportunism or unfair advantage.
- Jump out of the frying pan into the fire To flee one mess for a worse one, no win.
- Jump out of your skin To startle or thrill hugely, leaping from shock.
- Jump ship To ditch a failing venture or group.
- Jump the gun To act prematurely or start something before the proper time, often leading to mistakes or embarrassment due to impatience or misjudgment. It implies…
- Jump the queue To skip ahead unfairly, cutting in line.
- Jump the shark To reach a conspicuous moment when a television series or other long-running enterprise is perceived to sacrifice credibility or quality for a…
- Jump through hoops To go through excessive effort or obstacles to achieve something, often at someone else's demand, suggesting a performance of agility or submission…
- Jumping Jehoshaphat A comic, mild oath used to express sudden surprise, amazement, alarm, or impatience without swearing directly. Best suited to humorous, period, or…
- Just what the doctor ordered Exactly the thing needed in the circumstances; something perfectly suited to restore, comfort, or fix a situation. Usually said of welcome relief - a…