jump the shark
Of television program or other narrative, to undergo a storyline development which heralds a fundamental and generally disappointing change in direction.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“That show jumped the shark when they added the new character.”
“I think this movie franchise jumps the shark in the third film.”
“Many fans believe the series jumped the shark during the fifth season when the plot became too unrealistic.”
“The podcast jumped the shark when the hosts stopped discussing history and started talking only about their personal lives and expensive vacations.”
“The video game series jumped the shark after the developers replaced the main hero with a talking robot to attract younger players.”
“While the sitcom was once a cultural phenomenon, critics argue it jumped the shark the moment the writers introduced a supernatural twist to the grounded storyline.”
first recorded 20th c.
From the 1977 episode of the American television series Happy Days titled Hollywood, Part 3. The plot required the character Fonzie to perform a jump over a shark while on waterskis, a development considered to have severed the show's connection to its original form.
- 01
go jump in the lake
Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.
- 02
go jump off a building
Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.
- 03
go jump off a cliff
Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.
- 04
jump at
To accept something enthusiastically. Usually an opportunity, or chance, or job etc.
- 05
jump at the chance
To immediately accept an offer; to seize an opportunity.
- 06
jump at the opportunity
To immediately seize a particular opportunity.
- 07
jump before one is pushed
to perform an action before being forced to do so.
- 08
jump down someone's throat
To criticise with excessive and unexpected harshness.
Last updated August 10, 2026