| 释义 |
▪ I. jump, n.1|dʒʌmp|
[f. jump v.: cf. F. saut and sauter.]
1. a. An act of jumping; a spring from the ground or other base; a leap, a bound: properly said of men or animals springing with the muscular action of the limbs. Sometimes with adv., as jump-up.
1552Huloet, Iumpe, subsultus. Iumpe by Iumpe, subsultim. 1589R. Robinson Gold Mirr. etc. (Chetham Soc.) 59 Began with speed, for to plucke up my feete, Because the place did put me to my jumps. 1599Marston Sco. Villanie xi, The orbs celestiall Will daunce Kemps iigge: they'le revel with neate iumps. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts 265 The hare..sildome looketh forward, because it goeth by iumpes. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) III. 205 The cat..then seized it with a jump. 1851Mayne Reid Scalp Hunt. ix. 69 We will be back in a squirrel's jump. 1890Spectator 15 Mar., The god comes out of the car with a jump-up like a Jack-in-the-box.
b. esp. in reference to the distance cleared (long or broad jump), or height jumped (high jump), as an athletic performance; also, a place to be jumped across, an obstacle to be cleared by jumping, in hurdle-racing, hunting, etc.
1858R. S. Surtees Ask Mamma xl, Hoping he was..able to sit at the jumps. 1870D. P. Blaine Encycl. Rur. Sports (ed. 3) §1648 This leap..was found to be twenty-four feet clear, which..was, it must be allowed, no small jump. 1872Graphic 6 Apr. 314/1 (Oxf. & Cambr. Athletic Sports) After..the Broad Jump, and the spin for a quarter of a mile..came the hammer-throwing. 1881[see athlete 2]. 1889R. S. S. Baden-Powell Pigsticking 123 To educate them [horses]..it is well worth while to keep up a small line of natural jumps somewhere in the neighbourhood. 1895Outing (U.S.) XXVI. 455/1 Oxford won all the runs, the high hurdle, and tied in the high jump with Yale, losing only the weights and broad jump.
c. A descent on a parachute.
1922Encycl. Brit. XXX. 14/2 The parachute..is of little use unless the jump is made over 200 ft. from the ground. 1935C. G. Burge Compl. Bk. Aviation 490/1 Jumps have been made from heights up to 30,000 ft., the descent taking about 40 min. 1970Times 9 Dec. 16/1 The man..made his astonishing parachute jump into allied territory.
d. A journey, trip. slang (orig. U.S.).
1923N. Anderson Hobo v. 83 He likes to tell of making ‘big jumps’ on passenger trains as from the coast to Chicago in five days, or from Chicago to Kansas City or Omaha in one day. 1932E. Smith Satan's Circus 17 The performers..amused themselves, during the tedium of long ‘jumps’, by making him sing to them. 1956B. Holiday Lady sings Blues (1973) viii. 77 We were playing big towns and little towns, proms and fairs. A six-hundred-mile jump overnight was standard. 1967C. O. Skinner Madame Sarah xii. 268 On sleeper jumps after the star had got to bed, it was Pitou's nightly duty to hear her read the lines of a role.
e. Jazz music with a strong beat; a jazz tune with a strong rhythm. Freq. attrib. orig. U.S.
1937Metronome Sept. 32/2 Count Basie. John's Idea; One O'Clock Jump. 1943R. Blesh This is Jazz 30 You have left only the intolerable monotony of ‘jump’ (riff) phrases played over and over. 1946Mezzrow & Wolfe Really Blues xvii. 325 This mechanical swing-band age of jump, organ-grinder riffs, mop-mop and rip-bop. 1946R. Blesh Shining Trumpets (1949) xii. 279 Jump-swing, that aptly named music which cannot be danced to but must be jumped to. Ibid. 282 The small jump bands that are constantly forming and disbanding. Ibid., Exploiting jump rhythms. 1955C. Fox in A. J. McCarthy Jazzbook 1955 6 Ellington..produced jazz in the 'twenties, ‘swing’ during the 'thirties, ‘jump’ in the early 'forties. 1971Melody Maker 9 Oct. 17/4 In a way, his band was a 1940's jump band with amplifiers. 1972Jazz & Blues Sept. 10/3 The West Coast ‘jump’ style adopted by artists like Roy Milton and Joe Liggins. Ibid. 11/3 ‘Jump’ instrumentals.
f. An act of copulation; sexual intercourse. slang.
1934J. O'Hara Appointment in Samarra (1935) vii. 212 Then you get cockeyed and take her out for a quick jump and ruin the whole works. 1970G. Greer Female Eunuch 249 A wank was as good as a jump in those days.
2. A sudden involuntary movement caused by a shock or excitement; a start. In pl. nervous starts; an affection characterized by such, spec. (a) chorea, (b) delirium tremens (slang).
1879Payn High Spirits, Capt. Cole's Passenger II. 204, I thought he had been drinking, and in fact was on the verge of ‘the jumps’. 1881W. E. Norris Matrim. I. i. 17 Pilkington saw it..and..it gave him the jumps to that extent that he couldn't eat a thing afterwards. 1886Maxwell Gray Silence Dean Maitland I. x. 272 It gives me the most fearful jumps to think of. 1890Boldrewood Miner's Right xxviii. (1899) 126/2 ‘I'm afraid he's got the jumps coming on’... ‘Delirium tremens’, I returned; ‘very likely, indeed’. 1890A. Edwardes Pearl-powder vii, At Philippa's sudden apostrophe she gave a jump.
3. Of things: A movement in which a thing is suddenly and abruptly thrown up or forward. spec. in Gunnery: The vertical movement of the muzzle of a gun at the moment of discharge; the angle which measures this.
1611Cotgr., Cahot, the iumpe, hop, or iog of a coach, &c., in a rugged, or vneuen, way. 1879Man. Artillery Exer. i. 3 When a gun is fired, the whole system has a tendency to revolve in a vertical plane round the point of the trail or rear trucks; this lifting in front gives rise to the ‘jump’. 1897Text-Bk. Gunnery, Jump, is the angle between the line of departure and the axis of the piece before firing.
4. fig. A sudden abrupt rise in position, amount, price, value, or the like; an abrupt change of level either upward or downward; an abrupt rise of level in building; a fault in stratification.
1657North's Plutarch, Add. Lives (1676) 8 He did much admire, men should quarrel and kill themselves for the honour of a jump or precedency, or some such toy. 1842Francis Dict. Arts, Jump, one of the numerous appellations given by miners to a fault or dislocation of different mineral strata. 1842–76Gwilt Archit. (ed. 7) Gloss., Jump, an abrupt rise in a level course of brickwork or masonry to accommodate the work to the inequality of the ground. 1883Gresley Gloss. Coal Mining, Jump (Jump-up, Jump-down), an up-throw or a down-throw, fault. 1883Stubbs' Mercantile Circular 8 Nov. 982/2 The jump in the import of raw cotton, which has more than quadrupled itself in two years. 1887Spectator 3 Sept. 1173 The little barometrical jumps which have recently been observed. 1891Daily News 12 Nov. 2/1 Canary seed exhibits a sudden upward jump of several shillings. 1896Ibid. 18 June 3/1 Negatived by 293 votes against 118, a jump up of 100 in the majority.
5. fig.
a. A sudden and abrupt transition from one thing or point to another, with omission of intermediate points; an interval, gap, chasm, involving such sudden transition, e.g. in argument.
1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. iv. §36. 587 By this means, there will not be so vast a Chasm and Hiatus..or so Great a Leap and Jump in the Creation. 1781Cowper Conversation 154 Their nimble nonsense..gains remote conclusions at a jump. 1871Blackie Four Phases i. 62 Every one sees that there is a jump in the logic here.
b. Contract Bridge. A bid higher than is necessary in the suit concerned. Also attrib.
1927M. C. Work Contract Bridge (1928) 24 One more trick than would be required in Bridge to justify a raise or jump. Ibid. 56 With Ace-King-Queen..make a jump denial by bidding three. 1931E. Culbertson Contract Bridge at Glance 11 A jump bid in a new suit by Opening bidder, after a minimum response by partner, is a Forcing Re-bid. 1933,1970[see forcing ppl. a.]. 1970Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 51/4 The jump to three diamonds shows 13 to 16 points. 1973Country Life 27 Dec. 2184/1 The jump bid in the opponents' suit is to show that he really has them.
†6. fig.
a. The decisive moment of plunging into action of doubtful issue; dangerous critical moment, critical point, crisis. (L. discrīmen.) Obs.[The notion is evidently that of making a jump or taking a plunge into the unknown or untried.] 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus Ann. ii. iii. (1622) 36 Being therefore at a iumpe to hazard all [igitur propinquo summæ rei discrimine], thinking it conuenient to sound the souldiers minde. 1607Drewill's Arraignm. in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) III. 62 Being come to the very iumpe of giuing iudgement. 1622Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. i. 212 Seeing..that he now stood upon the iumpe of his Salvation or Condemnation. a1641Bp. R. Montagu Acts of Mon. (1642) 215 This testimony of Clemens..must needs put our Imputers upon this jump, that if Sibyls Oracles were counterfaited by Christians, it was done in the Apostles times.
†b. Venture, hazard, risk. Obs.
1600Holland Livy vi. xxxviii. 243 Presently..they put it to the verie jumpe and finall triall what should become of those lawes. 1601― Pliny II. 219 It [hellebore] putteth the Patient to a jumpe or great hazzard. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iii. viii. 6 Our fortune lyes Vpon this iumpe.
7. Phrases. all of a jump (orig. U.S.), in a jumpy or nervous state; (at a) full jump (U.S.), at full speed; at one jump (U.S.), in one go; at the jump = at the first jump; † at the first jump, at the very start (of proceedings); for (or on) the (high) jump, for the jumps, up for trial, on a charge for misdemeanour; due for punishment, spec. hanging; from the jump, from the start or commencement; to get (or have) the jump on (orig. U.S.), to gain a lead on, get an advantage over (someone); on the jump, (a) on the move; (b) abruptly; swiftly; (c) in a nervous condition; one jump ahead, one step in front of (someone or something); just avoiding a pursuer or the like (lit. and fig.).
1577Hanmer Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619) 158 Procopius, stepping forth at the first iumpe [εὐθὺς ἀπὸ πρώτης εἰσόδου] before the tribunall seate of the presidents. 1825J. Neal Bro. Jonathan II. 291 What's the matter with you,—all of a jump! 1848New York Tribune 11 Nov. (Bartlett), A whole string of Democrats, all of whom had been going the whole hog for Cass from the jump. 1854M. J. Holmes Tempest & Sunshine i. 12 What you ridin' Prince full jump down the pike for? 1859Southern Lit. Messenger XXVIII. 143, I run down stream, an I meets Bill on the jump. 1870De B. R. Keim Sheridan's Troopers vi. 39 The irate quadruped made for our party, coming at a ‘full jump’. 1884‘Mark Twain’ Huck. Finn xviii. 162 My nigger had a monstrous easy time..but Buck's was on the jump most of the time. 1888Daily Inter-ocean 3 Feb. (Farmer), He can depend on a big crowd and fair play from the jump. 1896Ade Artie xvi. 147, I put up a holler right at the jump. 1899‘Mark Twain’ in Century Mag. Nov. 76/1 It was my idea to spread [a name] all over the world, now, at this one jump. 1900Daily News 4 May 3/2 Keeping the foe on the jump. 1905J. C. Lincoln Partners of Tide vi. 106 When one of us three says, ‘Nickerson, do thus and so,’ you do it, and do it on the jump. Don't stop to think 'bout it. 1912Ade Knocking Neighbors 123 Rufus was sinfully Rich, but nevertheless Detestable, because his Family had drilled into him the low-down Habit of getting the Jump on the Other Fellow. 1912F. M. Hueffer Panel iii. i. 289 That elderly gentleman was exceedingly ‘on the jump’, as nervous as a man well could be. 1914‘High Jinks, Jr.’ Choice Slang 21 Only about three jumps ahead of a young conniption. 1919Athenæum 1 Aug. 695/2 ‘He's for the high jump’ is a favourite expression meaning that someone is to be charged before his company or commanding officer. Ibid. 8 Aug. 727/2 ‘For the jumps’ (up for trial). 1921C. Mulford Bar-20 Three xviii. 230 Hurrying men pulled thick planks from the pile..and hauled them, on the jump, to windows and doors. 1922E. O'Neill Anna Christie (1923) 29, I didn't go wrong all at one jump. 1925Fraser & Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 119 High jump, on the, a term used of a man entered on a ‘Crime sheet’, and for trial for a military offence; the suggestion being that the accused would need to jump very high to get over the trouble. 1936E. Ambler Dark Frontier xi. 173 If we fall down on this job..it's me for the high jump. 1936G. Greene Gun for Sale i. 23 He sounded all of a jump. 1940Wodehouse Eggs, Beans & Crumpets 103 If ever I saw a baby that looked like something that was one jump ahead of the police..it is this baby of Bingo's. Definitely the criminal type. 1942‘N. Shute’ Pied Piper 247 I'm for the high jump. They got the goods on me all right. 1956‘A. Gilbert’ And Death came Too xiv. 145, I can't afford to act for someone who's going to be found guilty. And..it looks to me remarkably likely Mrs. Appleyard is going to find herself for the high jump. 1960D. Lytton Goddam White Man xi. 183 He thinks he has the jump on us. 1963J. Prescot Case for Hearing viii. 123 All of the accused are for the high jump. 1971M. Sinclair Sonntag ii. 14 Someone is for the jump, I can tell you. Misinformed, that's what I was. 1972Real Estate Rev. Winter 22/1 Each of these new developers hopes to get the jump on the other by adding more square footage to the units and giving more in amenities. 1972J. Philips Vanishing Senator (1973) i. iv. 37 Get over here on the jump... Step on it, will you? 1973Sun 18 Jan. 6 That would allow the Government to permit wage rises to keep one jump ahead of prices.
8. A robbery (see quots.). slang.
1777in Partridge Dict. Underworld (1949) 374/1 The jump... The dusk of the evening is the time allotted for this, as it prevents any one at a distance from observing what passes; a great number of rogues then gets lurking about, taking advantage of the unpardonable neglect of others; every window they come near that has no light in, they open, if it happens not to be fastened; they then take what is most valuable out of that room, and very often go into others in the same house. 1781G. Parker View of Soc. II. i. 140 As soon as they have completed this robbery, the Jumper descends... The Jump being thus completed, they sheer off immediately. 1788Grose Dict. Vulgar T. (ed. 2), The jump, or dining room jump; a species of robbery effected by ascending a ladder placed by a sham lamp-lighter, against the house intended to be robbed. It is so called, because, should the lamp-lighter be put to flight, the thief who ascended the ladder has no means of escape but that of jumping down. 1901‘Linesman’ Words by Eyewitness (1902) 293 They are sure to see a ‘jump’ in everything, even in concessions. Note: South African euphemism for a robbery.
9. Comb. (sense 1 c), as jump boot, a parachutist's boot; jump-master, a man in charge of parachutists; jump-sack slang, a parachute; jump-suit, jump suit orig. U.S., a parachutist's one-piece garment; also, a similar garment worn by other people.
1948Amer. Speech XXIII. 319 Jump boots, paratroopers' shoes. 1972Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 4 Aug. 1/6 She ran to her husband's prostrate body, unlaced his jump boots and pulled them off.
1942Look 3 Nov. 43/2 (caption) The jumpmaster..cries, ‘Stand in the door!’ and the men crowd forward, waiting for the electrifying order: ‘Jump!’ 1970N. Armstrong et al. First on Moon xiv. 353 It's like riding an airplane, getting ready to jump. Anything could go wrong. Something could happen to the airplane.., the jumpmaster. 1973Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 20 May 30/5 She was standing on the wing of the airplane hanging on and waiting for the jumpmaster to say ‘go’.
1942‘B. J. Ellan’ Spitfire! p. x, A parachute is called a brolly or a jumpsack. 1948Amer. Speech XXIII. 319 Jump suit, uniform worn when jumping from airplane. 1965Guardian 7 May 10/1 Rayon linen jump-suit with turn-up trousers and Orlon fish-net midriff. 1965H. Kane Devil to Pay (1966) xxii. 129 Nora was slender and graceful in a crisp white narrow-legged jump suit. 1969New Yorker 30 Aug. 73/1 Three parachutists in jump suits. 1971Black World Apr. 38/2 We worry over horsepower (no pun intended) and power steering, fashionable jump suits and Afro haircuts. 1972Time 17 Apr. 58/2 He..sews conservation patches all over his jumpsuit.
▪ II. jump, n.2 Obs. exc. dial.
[perh. a corruption of F. juppe jup, assimilated by popular etymology to jump v. and n.1]
1. A kind of short coat worn by men in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: see description in quot. 1688.
1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. xv. 252 Even the Bedel..without his blew Jump, and silver head tipstaffe loses reputation among the boyes and vagrants. 1665J. Cosin Mem. Answ. Prebends Durham in Surtees Misc. (1858) 267 Wearing long rapiers, great skirted jumpes and short daggers. 1688R. Holme Armoury iii. 96/2 Iumpe..extendeth to the Thighs is open or buttoned down before, open or slit up behind half way: the Sleeves reach to the Wrist. 1703Country Farmers Catech. (N.), By'r lady, nothing but a drugget jump and a caster, a russet gown for my wife Susan. c1746Collier (Tim Bobbin) View Lancash. Dial. Wks. (1862) 41, I donn'd meh Sunday Jump o top o meh Singlet. 1828Craven Dial., Jump, a child's leathern frock. [1887South Chesh. Gloss., Jumps, clothes. Chiefly in the phrase ‘Sunday jumps’ = Sunday best.]
†b. spec. Applied in 17th c. to the short coat worn by Presbyterian ministers. Obs.
1653Pol. Ballads (1860) I. 114 Here's the trunk-hose of the Rump..And a Presbyterian jump, With an Independent smock. 1656Artificial Handsom. 119 What enemies were some Ministers..to long cassocks, since the Scotch jump is looked upon as the more military fashion, and a badge of a Northern and cold reformation? 1680Hickeringill Meroz 12 The Jesuits, and the Fanaticks, especially the rigid Presbyterian... One wears a Fryars weed, the other a short synodical Jump.
2. A kind of under (or undress) bodice worn by women, esp. during the 18th century, and in rural use in the 19th; usually fitted to the bust, and often used instead of stays. From c 1740 usually as plural jumps (a pair of jumps).
1666New Eng. Hist. & Gen. Register (1864) XVIII. 329, I give to my sonn Williams wife, ye jump which was my sister Sarah Caps. 1706T. Baker Tunbr. Walks v. i, I'll be sure to send for you when I have occasion for a new jump. 1740in Mrs. Delany's Life II. 113 Her jumps will go next Sunday, and I daresay she'll put them on. 1755Johnson, Jump, a waistcoat; a kind of loose or limber stays worn by sickly ladies. 1762Songs Costume (Percy Soc.) 240 Now a shape in neat stays, now a slattern in jumps. 1784Specif. Jean Phillipe's Patent No. 1444 These springs are for ladies' jumps who do not choose to wear hard incommodious stays. 1825–80Jamieson, Jumps, a kind of easy stays, open before, worn by nurses.
3. attrib., as jump-coat = sense 1, 1 b.
1660Blount Boscobel i. (1680) 61 A leather-doublet..a pair of old green breeches and a Jump-coat (as the Country calls it). 1703Cupid Stripp'd (N.), What long-winded brother in a short jump coat did preach to day. 1755Carte Hist. Eng. IV. 642 The habit he came in, was..a green cloth jump coat threadbare, the threads being white.
▪ III. jump, n.3
Also 9 Sc. jimp.
(See quots.)
1709Blair in Phil. Trans. XXVII. 146 After this I provided some Jumps, or Leather, such as Shoemakers use for the Heels of Shoes. 1825–80Jamieson, Jimp, thin slips of leather, put between the outer and inner soles of a shoe, to give the appearance of thickness.
▪ IV. † jump, a., adv.
[Connected with jump v. 5.]
A. adj. Coinciding, exactly agreeing; even; exact, precise.
1581Mulcaster Positions xxx. (1887) 110 When..some parte therof wanteth his due forme, his iumpe quantitie, his iust number, his naturall seat. 1584Lyly Campaspe i. iii, Cris. Thou thinkest it a grace to be opposite against Alexander. Diog. And thou to be jump with Alexander. c1586Sidney Arcadia iii. Wks. 1724 II. 714 Jump concord between our wit and will. 1622Fletcher Prophetess i. iii, They are as jump and squar'd out to his nature. a1637B. Jonson Underwoods, Execr., Vulcan, Acrostichs, and Telestichs, on jump Names. 1828Craven Dial., Jump, short, compact.
†B. adv. With exact coincidence or agreement; exactly, precisely. Obs.
1539Taverner Erasm. Prov. (1545) 36 Sure I am, that men of oure tyme kepe this sayenge so iompe. 1570B. Googe Pop. Kingd. ii. 20 b, In this they all do iumpe agree. 1574J. Studley tr. Bale's Pageant Popes iii. 43 Ye shall finde it also make iump six hundred sixty sixe. 1579Twyne Phisicke agst. Fort. i. xxiv. 33 a, Thou art iumpe of mine opinion. 1589R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1590) 21 Meete halfe way, and I standing iump in the middle will crie aime to you both. 1602Shakes. Ham. v. ii. 386 But since so iumpe vpon this bloodie question, You from the Polake warres, and you from England Are heere arriued. 1615W. Lawson Orch. & Gard. iii. x. (1668) 29 Make your graft agree jump with the cyon. a1656Ussher Ann. iii. (1658) 13 The time of this Belus..falls in jump with the age of this Amenophis.
Hence † ˈjumply adv., coincidently, accordantly; exactly, precisely. † ˈjumpness, evenness, fitness.
a1586Sidney Arcadia v. (1622) 450 My meeting so iumply with them, make mee abashed. 1604Pricket Honors Fame (1881) 12 Then in that time an vndermining wit, Did closly frame all actions iumply fit. c1640J. Smyth Lives Berkeleys (1883) I. 64 Age, time, place,..and other circumstances so iumply occurre. 1611Cotgr., Justesse, iustnesse, iumpnesse, euennesse.
▪ V. jump, v.|dʒʌmp|
[A word of mod. Eng., known only from c 1500; app. of onomatopœic origin: cf. bump, etc.
Words app. parallel are MHG. and dial. Ger. gumpen to jump, hop, Da. gumpe, Sw. dial. gumpa, Sw. guppa to move up and down, Icel. goppa to skip; but it does not appear how the 16th c. Eng. jump could be historically or phonetically related to these.]
I. Intransitive senses.
1. a. To make a spring from the ground or other base by flexion and sudden muscular extension of the legs (or, in the case of some animals, as fish, of the tail, or other part); to throw oneself upward, forward, backward, or downward, from the ground or point of support; to leap, spring, bound; spec. to leap with the feet together, as opposed to hopping on one leg.
1530Palsgr. 596/1, I jumpe, as one dothe that holdeth bothe his fete togyther, and leape upon a thyng. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 347 Not the worst of the three, but iumpes twelue foote and a halfe by th' squire. 1676Hobbes Iliad i. 504 And Thetis from it jumpt'd into the Brine. 1711Steele Spect. No. 118 ⁋2 He jumped across the Fountain. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (1850) 259 Friday..laughed, halloed, jumped about, danced, sung. 1797A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) III. 35 Jumping down half a dozen steps at once. 1863Geo. Eliot Romola lxviii, She jumped on to the beach and walked many paces. 1867Francis Angling i. (1880) 52 He should..mark where he sees a barbel jump. 1875Buckland Log-Book 88, I have never seen a salmon jump at sea.
b. To move suddenly with a leap, bound, or the like movement; to ‘spring’, ‘dart’, ‘shoot’.
1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 15, I jumpt out of bed. 18..L. Hunt Rondeau, Jenny kissed me when we met, Jumping from the chair she sat in. 1856Kane Arct. Expl. II. viii. 89, I jumped at once to the gun-stand. 1882B. D. W. Ramsay Recoll. Mil. Serv. I. v. 90 He jumped up with apparent indignation. 1884Payn Lit. Recoll. 181 To ambush in the wooded pass..and jump out upon me where it was darkest.
c. To move with a sudden involuntary jerk as the result of excitement or of a nervous shock; to start. to jump for joy, said lit. of children, etc., also fig. to be joyfully excited. to jump out of one's skin: see skin n. 6 f.
1715De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. i. (1841) I. 8 I'll thank him for it, for my heart jumps within me. 1775F. Burney Early Diary (1889) II. 69, I could almost have jumped for joy when he was gone, to think the affair was thus finally over. 1861Thackeray Four Georges iii. (1880) 137 So she jumped for joy; and went upstairs and packed all her little trunks. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. vi, You made me jump, Charley. 1900Speaker 19 May 190/1 A harsh penetrating voice that made me jump.
d. Colloq. phr. to jump (or go (and) jump) in the lake: to go away and cease being a nuisance; usu. imp. as a contemptuous dismissal.
1912[see go v. 32 a]. 1937E. S. Gardner Case of Lame Canary vii. 67 Suppose she tells us to go jump in the lake? 1946H. Croome Faithless Mirror ix. 97 ‘I'm here to stop that particular change.’ ‘You and what ten other fellows? Go jump in the lake.’ 1966M. Woodhouse Tree Frog xviii. 129 There was no real reason why I shouldn't have told Andy to jump in the lake as soon as he'd got us through Customs at Heathrow. 1968[see fruit n. 2 e]. 1974D. Gray Dead Give Away xxii. 202 She smelt pot in his room... He destroyed the evidence, and told her to jump in the lake.
e. to jump to the eye(s) [tr. F. sauter aux yeux]: to be noticed; to be obvious or prominent.
1926Fowler Mod. Eng. Usage 311/1 Jump to the eye(s) is a bad Gallicism. 1929G. Goodwin Conversations with G. Moore xxvii. 174 The fact that the Banquo scene in ‘Macbeth’—a scene which jumps to the eye—was overlooked, encourages me, obliges me, to think that no one reads Shakespeare. 1931M. D. George England in Transition iii. 59 Things jump to the eyes of the reader of this passage which have yet been ignored.
f. to jump rope: to skip with a skipping-rope. Cf. jump-rope s.v. jump-. N. Amer.
1934in Webster. 1961Western Folklore July 179 If only two children are jumping rope, one end of the rope may be tied to a tree, the other end being turned by one of the children. Ibid. 193/1 When she died she told me this, When I jump rope I always miss. 1972Nat. Geogr. Sept. 414 When they aren't shooting marbles or jumping rope, the youngsters lurch about on..stilts.
g. Of a parachutist: to jump out of an aeroplane.
1935C. G. Burge Compl. Bk. Aviation 490/1 After jumping and pulling the release cord the parachutist finds that the parachute opens fully in about 1½ sec. 1942[see jump-master s.v. jump n.1 9]. 1969A. White Long Drop 220 Ben jumped. His parachute failed to open.
h. Of jazz or similar music: to have a strong or exciting rhythm; to ‘swing’; so of a place, esp. a place of entertainment: to pulsate with activity; to be full of excitement or enjoyment. colloq. (orig. U.S.).
c1938N. E. Williams His Hi de Highness of Ho de Ho 16 The joint is jumping, the place is lively, the club is leaping with fun. 1943H. A. Smith Life in Putty Knife Factory vi. 89 He then called up a couple of his friends..and they came, and before long the joint was jumpin'. 1944Needle July 23/2 The jumping-jive Harlem musicians who think that to obtain any semblance to rhythmic excitement they must leave the theme and become lost altogether. 1946Mezzrow & Wolfe Really Blues (1957) vi. 71 Indiana Harbor was small but it jumped like mad. 1946F. Stacy in Rosenthal & Zachary Jazzways 49/2 The meaning of a ‘jump tune’ should be clear enough from the term itself; literally, it jumps. 1959‘F. Newton’ Jazz Scene v. 86 Nobody minded what was played so long as it ‘jumped’. 1968J. Sangster Foreign Exchange i. 31 The place was really jumping. It took me three minutes to locate the bar through the smoke haze. 1972Jazz & Blues Sept. 12/1 We should give some mention to the jumping instrumentals which Fats and the band were committing to wax during the early 50's.
i. to jump up. To dance the ‘jump-up’ (jump-up 2). West Indies.
1959‘M. Underwood’ Arm of Law xiv. 165 Glad to see you enjoying carnival. But why aren't you jumping up? 1968C. Nicole Self Lovers v. 71 ‘Alex!..I don't suppose you'd care to jump up.’..‘I'd love to.’ He took her in his arms. The tempo changed to a calypso beat. 1973Sunday Advocate-News (Barbados) 21 Jan. 6/6 Barbadians will have the opportunity to ‘jump up’ in real carnival fashion at the Barbados Cruising Club's annual carnival dance which will take place at Culloden Farm on Saturday, March 3.
2. transf. Of inanimate things: To be moved or thrown up with a sudden jerk like the jump of a man or beast. With quot. 1511 cf. bump.
1511Sir R. Guylforde Pilgr. 60 The sayde ancre helde vs frome jumppynge and betynge vpon the sayde rok. 1568[see jumping vbl. n.]. 1611Cotgr., Cahoter, to iumpe, iog, or hop, as a coach in vneuen way. 1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 128 Such as jump in, die wise or cubically. 1833J. Holland Manuf. Metal II. 134 It should..be set..accurately, so as not to jump or sway in any part when made to revolve. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. viii. 58, I..could see the stream..flashing as it jumped over the ledges. 1894Hall Caine Manxman v. iii. 287 The sea was beginning to jump.
3. fig.
a. To pass abruptly from one thing or state to another, with omission of intermediate stages; to spring up or rise suddenly in amount, price, etc.
1579Tomson Calvin's Serm., 2 Tim. 856/1 If we goe about to bring them to some instruction, they iumpe from the cocke to the asse [ils sauteront du coq à l'asne]. 1727De Foe Syst. Magic i. i. (1840) 36 To jump at once from the beginning of things to the present times. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. vi. 347 Our soundings gradually decreased..to twenty-five fathom; but soon after..they jumped back again to thirty fathom. 1886C. Scott Sheep-Farming 189 Another upward bound was experienced, when wool jumped up suddenly to 46s. per tod.
b. To come to († into), or arrive at (a conclusion, etc.) precipitately and without examination of the premisses.
a1704Locke in Spect. (1714) No. 626 ⁋6 We see a little, presume a great deal, and so jump to the Conclusion. 1809Malkin Gil Blas v. i. ⁋62 [He] jumped to the conclusion that there was not a more ancient house in Spain. c1865J. Wylde in Circ. Sc. I. 302/2 The rigid system of philosophy cannot allow us to jump at conclusions. 1884Rider Haggard Dawn xlvi, So ill-natured—or rather, so given to jumping to conclusions—is society. 1897Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 1044 The diagnosis..must not be jumped at without a careful consideration of the entire circumstances of the case.
4. With prepositions in special uses.
a. to jump at (rarely jump for): To spring as a beast at its prey; fig. to accept or take advantage of eagerly. colloq.
1769Gray Jrnl., Let. to Wharton 3 Oct., Butter that Siserah would have jumped at, though not in a lordly dish. 1844Alb. Smith Mr. Ledbury vii. (1886) 21 The guests..all jumped at the invitation. 1873Black Pr. Thule xxvi. 443 Lavender jumped at that notion directly. 1894R. Bridges Feast of Bacchus iii. 988 She jumped at the bargain.
b. to jump upon: To spring or pounce upon as a beast upon its victim, or a victor upon the prostrate body of a foe; hence (colloq.), to ‘come down’ crushingly with word or act upon one who exposes himself to severe handling or insult. Also to jump on.
1868M. E. Braddon Dead Sea Fr. v. I. 78 When a wretched scribbler was, in vulgar phraseology, to be ‘jumped upon’. 1887Lantern (New Orleans) 1 Oct. 2/1 The idea of two big chaps jumping on one man. 1891Church Oxford Movem. xvi. 274 Like a general jumping on his antagonist whom he has caught in the act of a false move. 1917D. Canfield Understood Betsy (1922) viii. 153 If you had to live the way he does, you'd be dirty!.. And then you go and jump on him! 1939I. Baird Waste Heritage xxi. 292 I'm sorry, Eddy, I didn't mean to jump on you that way. 1973‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer xvi. 138 She jumped on the butler for misunderstanding something about the drinks.
c. to jump down one's throat: see throat n. 3 a.
d. to jump to it: to make an energetic start upon something; to take prompt action; usu. imp. Also occas. to jump to = to obey readily. colloq. (orig. Mil.).
[1886F. T. Elworthy West Somerset Word-Bk. 390 Jump, to readily accept an offer. ‘Not her hab'm? Let-n ax o' her, that's all; I tell ee her'd jump to un.’] 1917W. Owen Let. 12 Feb. (1967) 434 He does nothing off his own bat, and doesn't always ‘jump to’ my orders! 1919[see jerk n.1 2 e]. 1929Morning Post 13 July 16 He does not know whether the service will come to his fore- or his back-hand; but he is ready to ‘jump to it’, whatever happens. 1956J. Masters Bugles & Tiger xiv. 178 A P. & O. run like a warship, where the passengers would do as they were told and jump to it, and like it. 1974M. Babson Stalking Lamb xvi. 121 When you hear my signal—jump to it!
5. a. To act or come exactly together; to agree completely, to coincide, tally. Const. with.
1567[implied in jumpingly]. 1573G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 27 Al this iumpid wel together. 1588J. Udall Demonstr. Discip. To Rdr. (Arb.) 10 The iudgments..so iumping with mine. 1590R. Sidney Madrigal in Greene Never too late, How love and folly jump in every part. 1592R. D. Hypnerotomachia 70 b, The corners of which triangle did iumpe with the sides, and lymbus of the subjacent plynth. 1607T. Walkington Opt. Glass 39 Wisedome and vertue jumpe in one with beauty. a1658Cleveland Poems, Britannicus's Leap 18 Good Wits may jump. 1663Butler Hud. i. iii. 1240 For all Men live and judge amiss Whose Talents jump not just with his. 1702S. Sewall Diary 21 Feb. (1879) II. 53 Our Thoughts being thus confer'd, and found to jump, makes it to me remarkable. 1768Goldsm. Good-n. Man v, Resolutions are well kept when they jump with inclinations. 1853W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1864) IV. 125 Our humors jump together completely. 1891Guardian 5 Aug. 1273/2 One passage in Mr. Morley's speech jumps with a letter we print to day.
b. to jump awry, to disagree.
1762Sterne Tr. Shandy V. xxviii, The trine and sextile aspects have jumped awry.
II. Transitive senses.
6. a. To pass clear over by a leap; to leap or spring over; to clear. In the game of draughts, To jump over in moving, to take (an opposing man). U.S.
c1600Shakes. Sonn. xliv, For nimble thought can iumpe both sea and land. 1853Kane Grinnell Exp. xxii. (1856) 176 Alternately jumping these crevices and clambering up the hummocks between them. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. ix. 64 Jumping the adjacent fissures.
fig.1899Boston (U.S.) Transcr. 24 Feb. 6/1 The appointee has received a promotion..by influence, and in doing it has jumped many of his fellow-officers quite as good or better than he.
b. To get on or off (a ship, train, etc.) by jumping (U.S.). Also, to leave (a place or thing) suddenly; spec. of a seaman: to desert (his ship) before his contract expires. orig. U.S.
1875J. Miller First Fam'lies Sierras vii. 47 Even the head man of the company..jumped a first-class poker game..to come in and weigh out dust. 1883American VI. 40 This evasion of imperative duty affords impunity to the men, if they jump the boat on the route. 1891C. Roberts Adrift Amer. v. 81, I managed to jump a freight [train] the same night and got right up to Topeka. 1899Westm. Gaz. 29 Nov. 2/1 He was too old a sailor to give them a chance of ‘jumping’ her. 1921C. E. Mulford Bar-20 Three vii. 88 I'm admittin' I'm walkin' soft, an' ready to jump th' country right quick. 1923R. D. Paine Comrades of Rolling Ocean xiv. 260, I told you about jumping the town because I had stove up a limousine. 1939G. Greene Lawless Roads 302 He thought perhaps he'd jump the ship at Lisbon—but..he was carried remorselessly on. 1957‘N. Shute’ On Beach iv. 131 Most of them would probably jump ship.
c. Of things: To spring off, to leave (the rails).
1883Leisure Ho. 282/1 The cars had ‘jumped the track’. 1898Westm. Gaz. 20 Jan. 7/2 The near van jumped the metals and fouled the line just as the north-bound passenger train was approaching.
d. to jump the bite (Dentistry): to correct a faulty occlusion or ‘bite’, esp. one due to a retracted mandible, by bringing the mandible forward as a whole.
1880[see bite n. 1 f]. 1901Smale & Colyer Dis. & Injuries Teeth (ed. 2) iv. 158 If..the patient can be made to acquire the permanent habit of bringing the mandible forward so as to make the teeth articulate normally, the bite will have been ‘jumped’. 1951J. M. Schweitzer Oral Rehabilitation xxxv. 830 Nearly 80 years ago Class II, Division 1 (Angle), cases were treated by ‘jumping the bite’... An attempt was made to reposition the mandible in an anteroposterior as well as a vertical and lateral direction.
e. Contract Bridge. To raise (a bid) higher than necessary in the suit concerned. Also intr.
1927M. C. Work Contract Bridge (1928) 33 If the partner jump, it must be with three cards of a suit. Ibid. 55 Cases of one No Trump jumped to two, and two of a Major jumped to three. 1929― Complete Contract Bridge i. 7 His proper procedure may be to shift to another declaration, or it may be to jump the original bid. 1963G. F. Hervey Handbk. Card Games 142 If responder has a count of 12 points he can jump straight to three No-Trumps.
†7. To effect or do as with a jump. Obs.
1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 195 Loue-songs for Maids..Iump-her, and thump-her. 1616B. Jonson Devil an Ass iv. i, Why, there was Sr Iohn Monie-man could iump A Businesse quickely. 1633W. R. Match Midnight iii. in Hazl. Dodsley XIII. 63 My father..swears, if I pleased him well, it should serve to jump out my portion. 1684N. S. Crit. Enq. Edit. Bible xxv. 230 The latter..jump't up new Translations of the Bible.
8. a. To cause to jump; to give a jumping motion to; to drive forward with a bound; to startle. Also fig.
c1815Jane Austen Persuasion (1833) I. xii. 310 She..ran up the steps to be jumped down again. 1849Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. X. i. 177 The gleans must then be jumped on the ground to level the roots. 1875Blake-Humfrey Eton Boating Bk. 45 With a dashing stroke the Westminsters jumped their boat up to their opponents. 1883Gresley Gloss. Coal Mining, Jump..2. To raise boring-rods in a bore-hole, and allow them to fall of their own weight. 1883American VI. 40 Constructed with a view to ‘jumping her’ over the bars at low water. 1890Boldrewood Col. Reformer (1891) 222 He nearly jumped his horse on to that last bullock's back. 1893F. Adams New Egypt 151 It is some time since I have felt so uncomfortable as I felt then, with..this question jumped upon me like a flash of lightning. 1898Westm. Gaz. 7 Apr. 2/3 People..whose nerves have been jumped by scorchers.
b. To cook in a frying-pan, shaking (them) up from time to time. Cf. jumped ppl. a.
1877Ouida Puck xxiii. 265 The cook sent me word that he's invented a new style of jumping mushrooms in wine.
c. Sporting. To cause (game) to start; to ‘spring’.
1836Southern Rose 10 Dec. 57/3 The boys were ordered to stick close to the dogs, and if they jumped the buck to catch him. 1839Southern Lit. Messenger V. 377/1, I would go, but I am a going to jump mullet to-night. 1874J. W. Long Amer. Wild-Fowl Shooting 205 The most successful method of hunting ducks is identical with..‘jumping them up’ along the creeks. 1885T. Roosevelt Hunting Trips 59 We had half an hour's good sport in ‘jumping’ these little ducks. 1894Harper's Mag. Feb. 352 A bunch of antelopes which we had ‘jumped’ the day before.
9. a. To pounce upon, come down upon with violence or unawares; to rob, to cheat; to seize upon by sudden unexpected action; to ‘steal a march’ upon.
1789Geo. Parker Life's Painter 160 (Farmer) They..pick him up and take him to the above alehouse to jump him, or do him upon the broads, which means cards. 1870B. Harte Roaring Camp 134 (Farmer) The old proprietor..was green, and let the boys about here jump him. 1879A. Forbes in Daily News 28 June 5/6 Some fellows..prowl around habitually with a single eye to ‘jumping’ anything conveniently portable. 1882St. James's Gaz. 11 Feb., The violent manner in which the office of Prime Minister was ‘jumped’. 1889C. King Queen of Bedlam 106 The Cheyenne stage, they said, was ‘jumped’, the driver killed, and the..passengers burned alive. 1899Westm. Gaz. 17 May 1/2 To try to jump the Transvaal after the experience of three years ago..would indeed be worse than folly.
b. to jump a claim, etc.: To take summary possession of a piece of land called a ‘claim’, on the ground that the former occupant has abandoned it, or has failed to comply with the legal requirements. Chiefly U.S. and Colonial. Also transf.
1854in Melbourne Argus 21 Mar., Claims are being jumped daily. 1855Ibid. 6 Jan., The meeting [of diggers] unanimously resolved to ‘jump’ all deserted holes. 1879Daily News 22 Mar. 6/2 There was a word coined and current at the mines of California..which exactly suits the transaction—‘jumping’... We ‘jumped’ the Diamond Fields, we ‘jumped’ the Transvaal, and we intend to ‘jump’ Zululand if we can. 1890Boldrewood Miner's Right iv. 37 If such work were not commenced within three days, any other miners might summarily take possession of or ‘jump’ the claim. 1893Westm. Gaz. 7 July 3/1.
10. a. To skip over, skip, pass by, evade.
to jump (one's) bail, jump one's bill, to abscond, leaving one's sureties liable or one's bill unpaid. slang (orig. U.S.).
1749Fielding Tom Jones xii. iii, We have ourselves been very often..given to jumping, as we have run through the pages of voluminous historians. 1844Emerson Lect. New Eng. Reformers Wks. (Bohn) I. 262 So they jumped the Greek and Latin, and read law, medicine, or sermons, without it. 1859G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 47 Jumped his bail, run away from his bail. 1872G. P. Burnham Memoirs U.S. Secret Service 55 Pete's friend Fred Biebusch had hid himself, after jumping his bail. 1888Chicago Herald (Farmer Americanisms), He arose at early dawn and jumped his bill. 1911L. J. Vance Cynthia 177 He's jumped bail on a bigamy indictment. 1973M. Russell Double Hit xxii. 165, I shan't jump bail. They'll see me..back in court. 1974Guardian 25 Jan. 24/1 [He] was given a three years' sentence in his absence, after he had jumped bail.
b. To drive past (traffic lights) when they indicate that one should stop. Also transf. orig. U.S.
1938Words Mar. 44/2 Jump, v.t., to anticipate (the go signal of a traffic director). 1958Listener 6 Nov. 731/1 Cutting in, jumping the lights, blind corners at sixty,..they're things I'd never dream of doing. 1961J. Barlow Term of Trial ii. ii. 160 She stared at the conflict of traffic. ‘Good God!’ she protested... ‘They jump the lights!’ 1970J. Porter Rather Common Sort of Crime iv. 42 She jumped a red light..it was a damned silly place to have traffic lights. 1973Daily Tel. 5 Jan. 2/7 The driver of the local train..said he had jumped a red signal light.
c. to jump the gun: see gun n. 6 e; to jump the queue: to go unfairly to or near the front of a queue of people; to push forward out of one's turn; also fig., to gain an unfair advantage or preferential treatment.
1947Hansard Commons 9 Dec. 951 There is no local authority who can clear these camps by allowing the people in them to jump the queues. 1955L. P. Hartley Perfect Woman viii. 82 He distrusted the quality of imagination; it was a rogue quality that jumped the queue. 1955Times 27 June 8/2 The Port of London Authority gave permission for the ship to ‘jump the queue’ of other vessels waiting in the river for berths. 1958Hayward & Harari tr. Pasternak's Dr. Zhivago ii. ix. 273 There was always a queue in the street... Of course I didn't try to jump the queue, I didn't say I was his wife. 1958P. Townsend in N. Mackenzie Conviction 118 Choosing whether to dodge some taxes..or jump the queue at the hospital. 1973‘M. Innes’ Appleby's Answer v. 49 One of the women makes a gesture, indicating that you should jump the queue.
†11. To hazard. Obs.
1605Shakes. Macb. i. vii. 7 But heere, vpon this Banke and Schoole of time, Wee'ld iumpe the life to come. 1611― Cymb. v. iv. 188 You must..iump the after-enquiry on your owne perill.
†12. To agree upon or make up hastily (a marriage, a match). Obs.
1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 92 Doron smudgde himselfe vp, and iumpde a marriage with his old friend Carmela. 1590― Never too late (1600) 103 She counts the man worthy to iumpe a match with her. 1615Swetnam Arraignm. Wom. (1880) p. xxvi, I aduise thee..to haue a speciall regard to her quallities and conditions before thou shake hands or iumpe a match with her.
13. a. Iron-forging. To flatten, ‘upset’, or shorten and thicken the end of a rail or bar by endwise blows. Also transf.
1851Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib. 249 The ends of the rails will not be jumped up or flattened by the wheels coming in contact with them, which is now the case. 1858Greener Gunnery 434 Fine powder will not do it, but, on the contrary, would jump up the end of the harpoon, or bend it. 1874Thearle Naval Archit. 99 Sometimes the butts..are fitted by chipping and ‘jumping’ them; that is, by hammering the butt of the plate until it fits against the butt of the next plate. 1883Crane Smithy & Forge 43 The extreme end is made white hot, and instantly thrust down or ‘jumped’ several times upon the anvil.
b. To join by welding the flattened ends (cf. jump-weld in jump-).
c. To join (rails, etc.) end on end (cf. jump-joint ibid.).
1864Webster, Jump...3. (Smith Work) To join by a butt-weld. 1884Cheshire Gloss. s.v., When a joiner, in putting up rails, nails them to the stumps exactly end to end..he calls it ‘jumping’ the rails.
14. Quarrying. To drill by means of a jumper.
1851Greenwell Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh. 32 Jump.—To drill a hole for the purpose of blasting;..the drill is made of a greater length, and the opposite end from the chisel end swelled out to make it heavy, and the drill driven by hand. 1865J. T. F. Turner Slate Quarries 13 A hole is jumped in the block [of slate], near the edge.
▸ intr. Science Fiction. To make an instantaneous or exceptionally fast journey over an extremely large distance in space. Cf. jump n.1 Additions.
1952I. Asimov in Astounding Sci. Fiction Oct. 67/2 It's different in different places and we have to know exactly what it is in order to allow ships to calculate exactly how to jump through hyperspace. 1974J. Haldeman Forever War (1976) 185 From Kaph-35 we jumped to Samk-78, from there to Ayin-129 and finally to Sade-138. Most of the jumps were no more than a few hundred light years. 1992V. Vinge Fire upon Deep (1993) 242 The ship was doing about ten ultrajumps per second: jump, recompute and jump again. 2004A. R. Pedrick Double Zero ii. 18 Computer Two determined that the ship had jumped a long way, clear out to the very rim of the galaxy.
▸ trans. slang (orig. and chiefly U.S.). to jump (a person) in: to initiate (a person) into a street gang, by subjecting him or her to a beating or other ritual. Also intr.: to undergo such an initiation. Similarly to jump (a person) out, in the context of leaving a gang.
1983J. C. Quicker Homegirls i. 15 If these criteria are met, the girl will then be ready for the final step, a ritual initiation granting her full status as a gang member. This ritual is termed being ‘jumped in’. 1990Christianity Today 15 Jan. 18/1 It's been said there are only two ways out of a gang—either to be killed in the loyal defense of your gang, or to be ‘jumped out’ (a brutal beating that often leaves a gang member crippled or dead). 1996in J. E. Lighter Hist. Dict. Amer. Slang (1997) II. 327/2 We jumped in together. 2000F.E.D.S. Mag. 2 vi. 77/1 F.E.D.S.: How were you initiated, were you jumped in? Bone: No. We didn't have to get initiated, although in different neighborhoods they do different things. Traditionally, if your set was jumping motherfuckers in back in the 70's, then that's what they're going to follow.
▸ trans. slang. to jump the shark: (originally of a television programme) to begin a period of inexorable decline in quality or popularity, esp. as marked by a particular event.
Popularized by the name of the web site www.jumptheshark.com: see quot. 1998.
1998Los Angeles Times 9 Apr. (Calendar Weekend section) 48/4 If you think the show's already passed its peak, be sure to vote for it at ‘Jump the Shark’.., a site that pinpoints the moment of each TV show's decline. The name comes from the ‘Happy Days’ show where Fonzie jumped a shark tank... Has ‘SP’ [sc. the television show South Park] ‘jumped the shark’ with its April Fools' episode? Only time and ratings will tell. 2001Financial Times (Nexis) 14 July (Sport section) 18 Formula One has jumped the shark and consequently I will not be going near the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend. 2003B. Little Policy 76 I'd stay here with you if I could, but someone has to be sociable, tend to our guests and make sure this party doesn't jump the shark. 2004Metro (London ed.) 27 Sept. 13 EastEnders jumped the shark as soon as Frank Butcher left the Square. |