Meaning
A person's appearance, style, or manner; the general impression they make. Almost always used with like in 'I like the cut of his jib', an informal and slightly playful expression of approval, more common in British than American English. Its negative twin, disliking the cut of someone's jib, is equally idiomatic. Informal and a touch old-fashioned; today nearly always a warm, humorous stamp of approval. Regional use: General English; more frequent in British English.
Origin
The jib is a triangular foresail, a word recorded from the 1660s. In the sailing era each maritime nation cut its jibs to a distinctive shape, so an experienced sailor could judge an approaching vessel's nationality, and something of her character, from the cut of her jib alone. The Phrase Finder traces the figurative sense to this practice and dates it to the nineteenth century; etymonline gives 1821 for 'cut of one's jib' meaning personal appearance, noting that sailors assessed an approaching ship by the condition of her jibs. The earliest citation collected by the Phrase Finder is Walter Scott's St. Ronan's Well (1824): 'If she disliked what the sailor calls the cut of their jib.' A suggested additional link between the triangular sail and the shape of a nose is noted there but explicitly unauthenticated.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- I don't like the cut of his jib
- the cut of her jib
Usage Examples
- The panel liked the cut of her jib and hired her on the spot.
- I'm not sure I like the cut of his jib; he agrees with everything too quickly.
- The old harbourmaster sized up the newcomer and decided he liked the cut of his jib.