Meaning of jerk | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially of the human body.
2. A rich, spicy Jamaican marinade.
   Caribbean, Jamaica, uncountable
3. A quick pull on something.
4. Meat (or sometimes vegetables) cured by jerking, in which it is coated in spices and slow-cooked over a fire or grill traditionally composed of green pimento wood positioned over burning coals; charqui.
   Caribbean, Jamaica, uncountable
5. A person with unlikable or obnoxious qualities and behavior, typically mean, self-centered, or disagreeable.
   US, derogatory, slang
6. A stupid person; an idiot or fool.
   US, derogatory, slang
7. A lift in which the weight is taken with a quick motion from shoulder height to a position above the head with arms fully extended and held there for a brief time.
8. Masturbation.
   slang
9. An act of satirizing behavior that is, to an extent, common in a community, especially in circlejerk subreddits.
   Internet, slang
10. A dance, popular in Western culture in the 1960s, in which the head and upper body is thrown forwards regularly to the beat of the music.
11. The rate of change in acceleration with respect to time.
12. A soda jerk.
    US, obsolete

Equivalents

Examples

“1856, Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part III Chapter X, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling The black cloth bestrewn with white beads blew up from time to time, laying bare the coffin. The tired bearers walked more slowly, and it advanced with constant jerks, like a boat that pitches with every wave.”

“A barrel-organ in the street suddenly sprang with a jerk into a jovial tune.”

“When I yell "OK," give the mooring line a good jerk!”

“I finally fired him, because he was being a real jerk to his customers, even to some of the staff.”

“You really are a jerk sometimes.”

“Oh, Raymond―don't be such a jerk. Go and get yourself a drink or a tranquilizer or something.”

“And [Albert Fish] was dizzyingly happy about it, smiled as described the grizzly details of the tortures and the murders, appearing to the detectives and one of the detectives said "he appeared as the Devil himself." I mean this Albert F-, I mean this guy was a real jerk!”

“Jerk of the Year contender”

“Girls, hey, what's that you're doing Girl, girl, what's that you're doing You got to show me the steps to it Somehow, gonna learn how to do it Doing the jerk Hey, do the jerk Girl, come on and work Hey, do the jerk.”

“Sunshine ranks high in the island's greates burger debate, while the chicken egg rolls with mango chutney and jerk mayo and fabulous fish tacos elevate pub grub to an art.”

“Jerk chicken is a local favorite.”

CEFR level