# Jimmy

/ˈdʒɪmi/ (US) · /dʒˈɪmi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. ice cream toppings

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Dialect

tiny pieces of chocolate or coloured sugar used to decorate ice cream or cakes.

For teachers: small, rod-shaped confectionery used as a topping for desserts. This term is highly regional and typically plural.

- The kids asked for extra chocolate jimmies on their vanilla cones.
- While 'sprinkles' is the standard term across most of the country, customers in parts of New England specifically ask for jimmies on their sundaes.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily used in the Northeastern United States, particularly around Boston and Philadelphia.

### 3. addressing a stranger

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect · Informal

a name you use to talk to a man when you do not know his real name.

For teachers: a colloquial and often disparaging or overly familiar form of address for an unknown male.

- Listen here, jimmy, you can't park your car in front of my gate.
- The local used the term 'jimmy' with a sharp edge to his voice, making it clear that the tourist's presence was not welcome in the pub.

Teaching tip: This usage is specific to Scotland and can be perceived as aggressive or rude depending on the tone of voice.

### 4. a tool

noun · CEFR C1 · American English

a short metal bar used to pull things apart or open doors.

For teachers: a short crowbar or prying tool, often associated with burglary or forced entry.

- The police found a jimmy and a pair of gloves in the suspect's bag.
- The burglar had used a heavy-duty jimmy to bypass the window's locking mechanism without shattering the glass.

## Examples

- The thief used a jimmy to open the back window.
- Police found a jimmy and other specialized tools in the suspect's bag during the search.
- The heavy oak door resisted the intruder's jimmy, leaving only deep gouges in the wood as evidence of the attempted forced entry.

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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.