jive
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a fast and energetic style of dancing that was very popular in the 1940s and 1950s.
n.a lively style of dance performed to swing or early rock and roll music, characterized by fast footwork and rhythmic syncopation.
Simple“The couple performed a perfect jive during the ballroom dancing competition.”
In context“Although the jive originated in the United States, it became a staple of international ballroom competitions due to its high-energy athletic requirements.”
Synonymsswingjitterbug - 02 C1 Advanced
n.talk that is intended to deceive someone or is simply nonsense.
n.deceptive, exaggerated, or nonsensical talk. Often used to describe speech that sounds impressive but lacks substance or honesty.
Simple“Don't give me all that jive; just tell me the truth about what happened.”
In context“The politician's speech was dismissed by critics as mere jive, designed to distract the public from the actual economic figures.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to dance the jive or to move rhythmically to jazz or rock music.
v.to perform the jive or a similar rhythmic dance, typically to swing, jazz, or early rock and roll.
Simple“We spent the whole night jiving to the live band at the club.”
In context“The crowded floor was filled with teenagers jiving to the latest rhythm and blues records until the early hours of the morning.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to talk to someone in a way that is not honest or to try to trick them.
v.to engage in deceptive or misleading talk; to attempt to fool someone through exaggerated or false claims.
Simple“Stop jiving me and tell me where you really were last night.”
In context“He tried to jive his way out of the ticket, but the officer wasn't interested in his elaborate excuses.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to match or agree with something else.
v.to be in accord or agreement with something. Often used as a variant of 'jibe'.
Simple“His explanation of the accident doesn't jive with what the witnesses saw.”
In context“The accountant noticed that the reported expenses didn't jive with the actual receipts provided by the department head.”
PitfallHis story doesn't jive with the facts. His story doesn't jibe with the facts.While 'jive' is commonly used this way in American English, 'jibe' is the traditional spelling for 'to agree'.
“It’s constructed around contributions from South African musicians whose “township jive” reminded Simon of the early rock and doowop records he heard as a kid in Queens.”
Unknown. Slang attested in African-American and rural American culture. Frequently used to imply lying, verbal deception or trickery. Has a possible historical antecedent in gyve (“shackle”). Alternatively, of African origin, compare Wolof jev, jeu (“to talk about someone absent, especially in a disparaging manner”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.