Meaning of the jig is up | Babel Free

Definitions

Used to express that a deception, trick, or dishonest scheme has been discovered, signaling the end of the ruse.

Australia, New-Zealand, US, idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“We knew then the jig was up, and it was no grin matter for us.”

“When I first told 'em how the jig was up with us, that the British were going to have the land, without any fighting about it, I never see fellows so mad before in my life, unless it was Major Eaton at Washington when he sot out to flog Mr. Ingham.”

“After I had returned home in the spring of 1893 from Washington, where I saw so many gray-haired men who had held high elective office begging for the crumbs from Cleveland's table, I gave my wife an account of what I observed, and told her that when the jig was up for me I would hasten back to Missouri to begin the practice of law once more and be a man among men.”

“The universe works in strange ways: just when you think the jig is up, you get a second chance.”

CEFR level