[jump on the bandwagon] or [get on the bandwagon] {v. phr.}, {informal} To join a popular cause or movement. •/At the last possible moment, the senator jumped on the winning candidate’s bandwagon./
[jump out of one’s skin]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be badly frightened; be very much surprised. •/The lightning struck so close to Bill that he almost jumped out of his skin./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[jump pass]{n.} A pass (as in football or basketball) made by a player while jumping. •/The Bruins scored when the quarterback tossed a jump pass to the left end./
[jump the gun] also [beat the gun] {v. phr.} 1. To start before the starter’s gun in a race. •/The runners were called back because one of them jumped the gun./ 2. {informal} To start before you should; start before anyone else. •/The new students were not supposed to come before noon, but one boy jumped the gun and came to school at eight in the morning./ •/The students planned to say happy birthday to the principal when the teacher raised her hand, but Sarah jumped the gun and said it when he came into the room./
[jump the traces] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES.
[jump the track]{v. phr.} 1. To go off rails; go or run the wrong way. •/The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident./ •/The pulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother’s washing fell down./ 2. {informal} To change from one thought or idea to another without plan or reason; change the thought or idea you are talking about to something different. •/Bob didn’t finish his algebra homework because his mind kept jumping the track to think about the new girl in class./ Compare: OFF THE TRACK.
[jump through a hoop]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do whatever you are told to do; obey any order. •/Bob would jump through a hoop for Mary./ Compare: TWIST AROUND ONE’S LITTLE FINGER, UNDER ONE’S THUMB.
[jump to a conclusion]{v. phr.} To decide too quickly or without thinking or finding the facts. •/Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody leg and jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot./ Contrast: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
[junked up]{adj.} or {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To be under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. •/You can’t talk to Billy, he’s all junked up./
[just about]{adv.}, {informal} Nearly; almost; practically. •/Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak./ •/The dress came down to just about the middle of her knee./ •/Has Mary finished peeling the potatoes? Just about./
[just for the fun of it]{adv. phr.} Merely as a matter of amusement. •/"I’ll bring a goat to class," Bob said to his classmates, "just for the fun of it; I want to see what kind of a face Professor Brown will make."/
[just for the hell of it] See: JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.
[justice] See: DO JUSTICE TO.
[just in case]{adv. phr.} For an emergency; in order to be protected. •/"Here are my house keys. Sue," Tom said. "I’ll be back in two weeks, but you should have them, just in case…"/ See: IN CASE.
[just in time] See: IN TIME.
[just now]{adv. phr.} 1. Just at this moment; at this time. •/Mr. Johnson isn’t here just now. Will you phone back later? 2./ {informal} A very short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while ago. •/"Where could that boy have gone so quickly? He was here just now!"/ Compare: WHILE AGO.
[just so(1)]{adj.} Exact; exactly right. •/Mrs. Robinson likes to keep her house just so, and she makes the children take off their shoes when they come in the house./
[just so(2)]{conj.} Provided; if. •/Take as much food as you want, just so you don’t waste any food./ Syn.: AS LONG AS(2).
[just so(3)]{adv. phr.} With great care; very carefully. •/In order to raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so./
[just the other way] or [the other way around] {adv. phr.} Just the opposite. •/One would have thought that Goliath would defeat David, but it was the other way around./
[just the same] See: ALL THE SAME.
[just what the doctor ordered]{n. phr.}, {informal} Exactly what is needed or wanted. •/"Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!" exclaimed Joe when Mary brought him a cold soda./
[kangaroo court]{n.} A self-appointed group that decides what to do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong. •/The Chicago mob held a kangaroo court and shot the gangster who competed with Al Capone./
[keel] See: ON AN EVEN KEEL.
[keel over]{v.} 1. To turn upside down; tip over; overturn. — Usually refers to a boat. •/The strong wind made the sailboat keel over and the passengers fell into the water./ 2. {informal} To fall over in a faint; taint. •/It was so hot during the assembly program that two girls who were standing on the stage keeled over./ •/When the principal told the girl her father died, she keeled right over./
[keen about] or [on] {adj. phr.} Very enthusiastic about someone or something. •/It is well known that Queen Elizabeth is keen on horses./
[keep abreast (of) someone] or [something] {v. phr.} To be informed of the latest developments. •/It is difficult to keep abreast of all the various wars that are being waged on planet Earth./ Compare: KEEP STEP WITH.
[keep a civil tongue in one’s head]{v. phr.} To be polite in speaking. •/He was very angry with his boss, but he kept a civil tongue in his head./ •/The bus driver began yelling at the woman and she told him to keep a civil tongue in his head./
[keep a close check on] See: KEEP TAB(S) ON.
[keep after]{v.}, {informal} To speak to (someone) about something again and again; remind over and over again. •/Some pupils will do sloppy work unless the teacher keeps after them to write neatly./ •/Sue’s mother had to keep after her to clean her bedroom./
[keep an ear to the ground] See: EAR TO THE GROUND.
[keep an eye on] or [keep one’s eye on] or [have one’s eye on] {v. phr.} 1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to. •/Keep an eye on the stove in case the coffee boils./ •/You must keep your eye on the ball when you play tennis./ •/A good driver keeps his eye on the road./ •/The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I was cheating./ •/Billy keeps a jealous eye on his toys./ •/The lion tamer keeps a sharp eye on the lions when he is in the cage./ Compare: LOOK OUT, LOOK OVER. 2. To watch and do what is needed for; mind. •/Mother told Jane to keep an eye on the baby while she was in the store./ •/Mr. Brown told John to keep an eye on the store while he was out./ Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1).
[keep an eye open] or [keep an eye out for] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.
[keep an eye out] See: EYE OUT.
[keep a stiff upper lip]{v. phr.} To be brave; face trouble bravely. •/He was very much worried about his sick daughter, but he kept a stiff upper lip./ •/Although he was having some trouble with the engine, the pilot kept a stiff upper lip and landed the plane safely./ Compare: KEEP ONE’S CHIN UP.
[keep a straight face] See: STRAIGHT FACE, DEADPAN.
[keep at]{v.} To continue to do; go on with. •/Mary kept at her homework until she finished it./ Compare: KEEP ON(1), KEEP UP(1b).
[keep away]{v. phr.} To remain at a distance from. •/Her mother advised Diane to keep away from men offering a ride./
[keep back]{v. phr.} To refrain or be restrained from entering; remain back. •/The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon./
[keep body and soul together]{v. phr.} To keep alive; survive. •/John was unemployed most of the year and hardly made enough money to keep body and soul together./ Compare: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.
[keep books]{v. phr.} To keep records of money gained and spent; do the work of a bookkeeper. •/Miss Jones keeps the company’s books./
[keep company]{v. phr.} 1. To stay or go along with (someone) so that he will not be lonely to visit with (someone). •/John kept Andy company while his parents went to the movies./ •/I’ll go shopping with you just to keep you company./ 2. To go places together as a couple; date just one person. •/After keeping company for one year, Mary and John decided to marry./ •/Who is Bill keeping company with now?/ Compare: GO STEADY.
[keep cool]{v. phr.} Remain calm; remain unexcited. •/The main thing to remember in an emergency situation is to not lose one’s head and keep cool./
[keep down]{v.} Keep from progressing or growing; keep within limits; control. •/The children could not keep their voices down./ •/We hoe the garden to keep down the weeds./ •/You can’t keep a good man down./ Compare: GET AHEAD.
[keeper] See: FINDERS KEEPERS.
[keep from]{v.}, {informal} To hold yourself back from; stop or prevent yourself from (doing something). •/Can you keep from repeating gossip?/ •/Jill can’t keep from talking about her trip./ — Usually used with "can" in the negative. •/You can’t keep from liking Jim./ Compare: CAN HELP.
[keep good time] See: KEEP TIME.
[keep house(1)]{v. phr.} To do the necessary things in a household; do the cooking and cleaning. •/Since their mother died, Mary and her brother keep house for their father./
[keep house(2)] also [play house] {v. phr.}, {informal} To live together without being married. •/Bob and Nancy keep house these days./
[keeping] See: IN KEEPING, OUT OF KEEPING.
[keep in mind] See: IN MIND.
[keep in touch with]{v. phr.} To remain in communication with; maintain contact with. •/Don’t forget to keep in touch, either by letter or phone, when you’re in Europe!/
[keep late hours]{v. phr.} To go to bed late; habitually stay up (and work) late. •/"If you always keep such late hours, your health might suffer," Tom’s doctor said./
[keep off]{v. phr.} To refrain from entering; stay away from. •/"Keep off the grass," the sign in the park indicated./
[keep on]{v.} 1. To go ahead; not stop; continue. •/The neighbors asked them to stop making noise, but they kept right on./ •/Columbus kept on until he saw land./ — Often used before a present participle. •/Relentlessly, the boy kept on asking about the birds and the bees./ •/The boy kept on talking even though the teacher had asked him to stop./ Syn.: GO ON. Compare: KEEP AT, KEEP UP. 2. To allow to continue working for you. •/The new owner kept Fred on as gardener./
[keep one at a distance] or [keep one at arm’s length] {v. phr.} To avoid (someone’s) company; not become too friendly toward. •/Mr. Smith is kind to the workers in his store but after work he keeps them at a distance./ •/Betty likes Bill and is trying to be friendly, but he keeps her at arm’s length./ Compare: KEEP ONE’S DISTANCE, HOLD OFF(1a).
[keep (one) posted]{v. phr.} To receive current information; inform oneself. •/My associates phoned me every day and kept me posted on new developments in our business./
[keep one’s balance]{v. phr.} To stay even-tempered; not become overexcited. •/Mike has the best personality to run our office; he always keeps his balance./ Contrast: LOSE ONE’S BALANCE.
[keep one’s chin up]{v. phr.} To be brave; be determined; face trouble with courage. •/He didn’t think that he would ever get out of the jungle alive, but he kept his chin up./ Compare: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP.
