[jug-eared] <adj.> With ears that stick out like the handles of a jug. * /Tommy was a redheaded, freckle-faced, jug-eared boy./
[juice] See: STEW IN ONE'S OWN JUICE.
[juice dealer] <n.>, <slang> An underworld money lender who charges exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently collects payment by physical force. * /No matter how broke you are, never go to a juice dealer./
[jump] See: GET THE JUMP ON or HAVE THE JUMP ON, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN or NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.
[jump all over] See: JUMP ON.
[jump at] <v.> To take or accept quickly and gladly. * /Johnny jumped at the invitation to go swimming with his brother./ Compare: TAKE UP(7).
[jump bail] or [skip bail] <v. phr.>, <informal> To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come. * /The robber paid $2000 bail so he wouldn't be put in jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped to Mexico./ * /The man skipped bail because he was afraid the court might put him in jail for a long time./
[jump ball] <n.> The starting of play in basketball by tossing the ball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps and tries to hit the ball to a member of his own team. * /Two players held onto the ball at the same time and the referee called a jump ball./
[jump down one's throat] <v. phr.> To suddenly become very angry at someone; scold severely or angrily. * /The teacher jumped down Billy's throat when Billy said he did not do his homework./
[jump from the frying pan into the fire] See: OUT OP THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[jumping-off place] <n. phr.> 1. A place so far away that it seems to be the end of the world. * /Columbus' sailors were afraid they would arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west./ * /So you visited Little America? That sounds like the jumping-off place!/ 2. The starting place of a long, hard trip or of something difficult or dangerous. * /The jumping-off place for the explorer's trip through the jungle was a little village./
[jump on] or [jump all over] or [land on] or [land all over] <v. phr.>, <informal> To scold; criticize; blame. * /Tom's boss jumped all over Tom because he made a careless mistake./ * /Janice landed on Robert for dressing carelessly for their date./ * /"I don't know why Bill is always jumping on me; I just don't understand him," said Bob./ Compare: FIND FAULT, GET ON, LAY OUT(7).
[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./
K
[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.
[keep one's distance] <v. phr.> To be cool toward someone; avoid being friendly. * /Mary did not like her co-worker, Betty, and kept her distance from her./ Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE.
[keep one's end up] See: HOLD ONE'S END UP.
[keep one's eye on] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.
[keep one's eye on the ball] <v. phr.> 1. To watch the ball at all times in a sport, usually in order to hit it or get it; not stop watching the ball. * /Keep your eye on the baseball or you won't be able to hit it./ 2. <informal> To be watchful and ready; be wide-awake and ready to win or succeed; be smart. * /Tom is just starting on the job but if he keeps his eye on the ball, he will be promoted./ Compare: ON THE BALL, KEEP AN EYE ON or KEEP ONE'S EYE ON or HAVE ONE'S EYE ON.
[keep one's eyes open] See: EYES OPEN.
[keep one's eyes peeled] or [keep one's eyes skinned] <v. phr.>, <informal> To watch carefully; be always looking. * /The bird-watcher kept his eyes peeled for bluebirds./ * /When the boys walked through the roads, they kept their eyes skinned for snakes./ Compare: EYES OPEN(1), EYE OUT.
