jerk around
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jerk around
1. To move around in abrupt, jerky movements Tommy, I'm trying to get you dressed for school. Quit jerking around like that! The spy kept jerking around nervously, suspicious of every sound and shadow along the way.
2. slang To waste or pass time idly or by doing nothing or engaging in foolish behavior. Stop jerking around and start cleaning this place up—my parents will be home soon!
3. slang To tease someone, often by trying to convince them of something untrue. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "jerk" and "around." Quit jerking me around, I know there isn't a Hollywood director calling me right now.
4. slang To waste someone's time, often by being indirect, evasive, or deceitful. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "jerk" and "around." I don't understand why they didn't just tell me "no" right away. Instead, they jerked me around for three weeks when I could have been looking for other jobs. When we complained to the hotel management about the quality of our room, they just jerked us around without ever admitting to being at fault.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
jerk someone around
and jerk someone overto hassle someone; to waste someone's time. Stop jerking me around and give me my money back. They sure like to jerk around people in that music shop.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
jerk around
Take unfair advantage of, manipulate or deceive, as in Leave me alone; quit jerking me around! or He was jerking you around when he said he was home all evening. [Slang; mid-1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
jerk around
v.
1. Slang To waste time: They jerked around for hours instead of doing their homework.
2. To take unfair advantage of someone, especially by deception or manipulation: Don't jerk me around; tell me what's going on. The con artist jerked around the unsuspecting tourists at the carnival.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
jerk around
in. to waste time. All you do is jerk around. Get a move on!
jerk someone around
and jerk someone over tv. to hassle someone; to waste someone’s time. Stop jerking me around and give me my money back! We jerked him over for a while, but he still wouldn’t come across.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.