# jig

/ˈdʒɪɡ/ (US) · /dʒˈɪɡ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jig
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. dance or music

noun · CEFR B2

a fast, lively traditional dance or the music played for it, often associated with Ireland.

For teachers: a lively traditional dance or tune, typically in compound time such as 6/8 or 9/8, characteristic of Irish folk music.

- The band played a fast jig and everyone started dancing.
- The fiddler transitioned seamlessly from a slow air into a spirited double jig, prompting the wedding guests to fill the dance floor.

### 2. manufacturing tool

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a tool or device that holds a piece of work in place and guides another tool to cut or shape it.

For teachers: a device used in manufacturing or woodworking to maintain the correct position of a workpiece and guide the operating tool.

- He used a wooden jig to make sure every hole was drilled in the same spot.
- The carpenter constructed a custom jig to ensure that the dovetail joints were cut with absolute precision across all twelve drawers.

### 4. to move quickly

verb · CEFR B2

to move up and down or back and forth with quick, jerky movements.

For teachers: to move with a rapid, jerky, or vibrating motion; to dance in a lively manner.

- The small boat started to jig up and down on the rough waves.
- The needle on the old gauge began to jig erratically, suggesting that the pressure in the boiler was reaching a critical level.

### 5. the game is up

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

used in the phrase 'the jig is up' to mean that a secret plan or trick has been discovered.

For teachers: an idiomatic use referring to a scheme, trick, or deceptive game that has been exposed.

- The thief realized the jig was up when he saw the police waiting at his house.
- Once the internal audit revealed the missing funds, the accountant knew the jig was up and prepared to confess.

## Examples

- The band played a fast jig and everyone started dancing.
- At the end of the wedding, the fiddle player began a lively jig that brought the whole family to the floor.
- The composer incorporated elements of the traditional maritime jig into the final movement of the symphony, creating a rhythmic contrast with the earlier, more somber passages.

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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.