[jaws tight] <adj.>, <slang>, <informal> Angry; uptight; tense. * /Why are you getting your jaws so tight?/

[jazz up] <v.>, <slang> To brighten up; add more noise, movement, or color; make more lively or exciting. * /The party was very dull until Pete jazzed it up with his drums./

[Jehu] See: DRIVE LIKE JEHU.

[jerk] or [jerker] See: SODA JERK or SODA JERKER.

[jerry-built] <adj.> 1. Built poorly or carelessly of cheap materials; easily broken. * /That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in a strong wind./ 2. Done without careful preparation or thought; planned too quickly. * /When the regular television program didn't come on, a jerry-built program was substituted at the last minute./

[Jesus boots] or [Jesus shoes] <n.>, <slang> Men's sandals, particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. * /I dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool./

[jig's up] See: GAME'S UP.

[jim-dandy] <n.>, <slang> Something wonderful; something very good. * /Tommy's new boat is really a jim-dandy! I wish I had one like it./

[jink] See: HIGH JINKS.

[job] See: DO A JOB ON, FALL DOWN ON THE JOB, LIE DOWN ON THE JOB, ON THE JOB.

[Joe Doakes] <n.> A name used informally for the average man. * /Let us say that Joe Doakes goes to the movies three times a year./ Compare: MAN IN THE STREET, SO-AND-SO.

[John Doe] <n.> A name used for an unknown person, especially in police and law business. * /The alarm went out for a John Doe who stole the diamonds from the store./

[John Hancock] or [John Henry] <n.>, <informal> Your signature; your name in writing. * /The man said, "Put your John Hancock on this paper."/ * /Joe felt proud when he put his John Henry on his very first driver's license./

[Johnny-come-lately] <n.> Someone new in a place or group; newcomer; also: a new person who takes an active part in group affairs before tlie group has accepted him; upstart. * /Everybody was amazed when a Johnny-come-lately beat the old favorite in the race./ * /When it looked as though Mr. Brown had a good chance of winning, many Johnny-come-latelies began to support him./

[Johnny-on-the-spot] <adj. phr.> At the right place when needed; present and ready to help; very prompt; on time. * /A good waterboy is always Johnny-on-the-spot./ * /The firemen were Johnny-on-the-spot and put out the fire in the house soon after it started./ Compare: ON THE JOB.

[John Q. Public] <n.> A name used informally for the average citizen. * /It is John Q. Public's duty to vote at each election./ Compare: JOE DOAKES.

[join forces] or [join hands] <v. phr.> To get together for the same aim; group together for a purpose; unite. * /The students and the graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym burned down./ * /The American soldiers joined hands with the British in the war against Germany./ Compare: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

[join hands] See: JOIN FORCES.

[joint] See: CLIP JOINT, PUT ONE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.

[joke] See: CRACK A JOKE.

[joking apart] See: JOKING ASIDE.

[joking aside] or [joking apart] <v. phr.>, <informal> No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously. * /Joking aside, although the conditions were not very comfortable, we had a wonderful time./ * /Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred people in the room./

[Jones] See: KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.

[jot down] <v. phr.> To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something. * /Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe./

[judgment seat] <n.> A place where you are judged; a place where justice and punishment are given out. * /Mrs. Smith is so bossy, she always acts as though she is in the judgment seat./

[jug-eared] <adj.> With ears that stick out like the handles of a jug. * /Tommy was a redheaded, freckle-faced, jug-eared boy./

[juice] See: STEW IN ONE'S OWN JUICE.

[juice dealer] <n.>, <slang> An underworld money lender who charges exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently collects payment by physical force. * /No matter how broke you are, never go to a juice dealer./

[jump] See: GET THE JUMP ON or HAVE THE JUMP ON, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN or NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.

[jump all over] See: JUMP ON.

[jump at] <v.> To take or accept quickly and gladly. * /Johnny jumped at the invitation to go swimming with his brother./ Compare: TAKE UP(7).

[jump bail] or [skip bail] <v. phr.>, <informal> To run away and fail to come to trial, and so to give up a certain amount of money already given to a court of law to hold with the promise that you would come. * /The robber paid $2000 bail so he wouldn't be put in jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped to Mexico./ * /The man skipped bail because he was afraid the court might put him in jail for a long time./