jiggle
/ˈdʒɪɡ(ə)l
/verb [no object]
1Move about quickly from side to side or up and down: the car jiggled on its springs...
- So the overall effect from some distance away was of a green thread that moved steadily, but jiggled and shook like a sensuous conga line.
- The first layer is ready when it is golden brown, or when it does not jiggle / move when you take it out of the oven.
- The fat that jiggles when you move, on the hips, thighs and tummy, isn't the problem.
Synonyms
fidget, wriggle, squirm, move restlessly
informal have ants in one's pants
1.1 [with object] Shake (something) lightly up and down or from side to side: he was jiggling his car keys in his hand...
- The vampire shook his arms, jiggling the shackles.
- His hand wrapped carefully around the handle and jiggled it lightly.
- He would play with his lip ring, roll his pencil around on the desk, jiggle his knees and shake his head to the tune in his head.
Synonyms
shake, jig, joggle, jog, waggle, wiggle;
jerk
noun [in singular]
A quick light shake: give that rack a jiggle...
- They wobbled a little as she bounced on her steps, then rested with a quick jiggle as she stopped.
- A quick jiggle of his door showed that it was locked.
- Mum gave us a jiggle of the legs to show us they are working.
Derivatives
jiggly
- The chick who bid $801 was a jiggly young thing with ‘Bob Rocks!’
- His skin was jiggly with water and he was a bit disoriented.
- She showed me how she cooked the rice, chopped the onions and cut to pieces the jiggly white tofu.
Origin
Mid 19th century: partly an alteration of joggle1, reinforced by jig.