Phrasal verb
jerk off
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
jerk off
Past
jerked off
Past participle
jerked off
Definition
phrasal verb. to touch your own private parts for sexual pleasure. It is a very rude and informal word.
phrasal verb. to masturbate. This phrasal verb is highly vulgar and primarily used in informal or derogatory contexts.
Examples
“He jerks off in the shower every morning.”
“The teenager got caught jerking off when his parents came home early from work.”
“In his transgressive novel, the author uses the act of jerking off as a metaphor for the protagonist's sterile and self-absorbed existence within a decaying urban landscape.”
Examples
simple
“He jerks off in the shower every morning.”
contextual
“The teenager got caught jerking off when his parents came home early from work.”
complex
“In his transgressive novel, the author uses the act of jerking off as a metaphor for the protagonist's sterile and self-absorbed existence within a decaying urban landscape.”
Usage
This is a vulgar term that should be avoided in all formal or polite situations.
Teaching tip
Highlight the difference between 'jerk off' and 'jerk around' to prevent students from accidentally using a vulgar sexual term when they mean 'wasting time'.
Pitfall
Stop jerking me off and tell the truth.
Stop jerking me around and tell the truth.
Learners confuse 'jerk off' with 'jerk around'; the former is a vulgar sexual act, while the latter means to deceive or waste someone's time.
Phrasal verb
Particles
off
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
jerk + off
Synonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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