# jacks

/ˈdʒæks/ (US) · /dʒˈæks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jacks
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. children's game

noun · CEFR B1

a game where you try to pick up small metal objects while a ball bounces.

For teachers: a traditional game played with a set of small metal or plastic pieces and a ball, involving specific manual dexterity tasks.

- The children sat on the porch playing jacks for hours during the summer afternoon.
- While modern children often prefer digital entertainment, traditional games like jacks still appear in schoolyards as seasonal fads.

### 2. the toilet

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Dialect

a slang word for a toilet or bathroom.

For teachers: a slang term for a lavatory or toilet, primarily used in Irish English.

- He asked his friend where the jacks were before they ordered their drinks.
- The pub was so crowded that there was a constant queue for the jacks throughout the entire match.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to Ireland; using it elsewhere may cause confusion as listeners might think of the game or the tool.

### 3. plural of jack

noun · CEFR A2

more than one 'jack', such as the tools used to lift cars or the playing cards.

For teachers: the plural form of 'jack', referring to mechanical lifting devices, playing cards between the ten and queen, or electrical connectors.

- The mechanic used two heavy-duty jacks to lift the van off the ground.
- In many card games, the four jacks hold a unique strategic value depending on whether they are designated as wild cards.

## Examples

- The children are playing jacks on the sidewalk.
- During the school break, students often gathered in the courtyard to play a quick round of jacks.
- While digital entertainment has largely superseded traditional street games, the rhythmic clatter of jacks remains a nostalgic sound for many who grew up in the mid-twentieth century.

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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.