one's jig is up

Definitions

Phrase. [C2]

Examples

“1836, Horatio Hastings Weld, "The Martyr to Science", in Corrected Proofs, Russell, Shattuck & Co., page 74, P.S. C'est en fait—my jig is up! While under the barber's hands this morning, a boy posted up in the shop⟳ the programme of a course of Phrenological Lectures!”

“1920, Ethel and James Dorrance, Glory Rides the Range, The Macaulay Company, page 272, "You tell⟳ the lie⟳!" she accused. "And you'd better quit⟳, for your jig is up. I've got you right. […]"”

“2006, Derrick Parker and Matt Diehl, Notorious C.O.P.: the inside story of the Tupac, Biggie, and Jam Master Jay investigations from the NYPD's first "hip-hop cop", St. Martin's Press⟳, →ISBN, page 102, But I'd convinced a witness to come⟳ in, […] Sure enough, when we brought Marshall in for the lineup, she picked him right away. ¶ Marshall was naturally upset⟳ that his jig was up, […]”

CEFR level