# Jake

/ˈdʒeɪk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jake
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. satisfactory or okay

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang · Archaic

used to say that everything is fine or satisfactory.

For teachers: denoting that a situation or arrangement is satisfactory, acceptable, or 'all right'.

- Don't worry about the money; everything is jake.
- He assured his partner that as long as the shipment arrived by midnight, the entire operation would be jake.

Usage: Usually functions as a predicative adjective following a linking verb.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely dated and associated with early 20th-century American slang; modern learners will rarely encounter it outside of period films or literature.

### 2. the police

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect

a slang name for a police officer.

For teachers: a slang term for a law enforcement officer, often used in urban or multicultural dialects.

- Keep a lookout for the jake while we wait here.
- The group dispersed quickly when someone spotted the jake patrolling the far end of the alleyway.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the' to refer to the police generally.

Teaching tip: Common in Multicultural London English (MLE) and some New York City dialects; it can be perceived as disrespectful or confrontational depending on the context.

### 3. a young turkey

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · American English

a young male turkey.

For teachers: a juvenile male turkey, typically under one year of age.

- The hunter spotted a jake in the clearing but decided to wait for a larger bird.
- Wildlife biologists distinguish a jake from an adult tom by the length of its beard and the shape of its tail feathers.

Usage: Primarily used in hunting and ornithological contexts.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term used by farmers, hunters, and bird experts.

## Examples

- Don't worry about the noise; everything is jake.
- The mechanic took a look at the engine and told me that everything was jake for the long drive.
- Despite the initial panic regarding the missing documents, the assistant assured the director that the files had been located and the situation was now entirely jake.

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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.