# jack in

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jack-in
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to stop doing something like a job or a project because you are bored or unhappy with it. You use this when you decide to quit something suddenly.

For teachers: To cease an activity, employment, or commitment, typically due to frustration or lack of interest. The verb is transitive and informal in register.

## Examples

- I decided to jack in my job and travel the world.
- After three months of failing to learn the piano, he decided to jack it in and try the guitar instead.
- Despite the lucrative salary, the constant pressure of the corporate environment eventually forced him to jack in his career in finance.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I jacked in of my job." but "I jacked in my job." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- Often used with 'it' as a dummy object when the activity being stopped is already understood.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'quit' or 'give up'; 'jack in' is specifically British and implies the speaker is fed up with the situation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.