jive
n. C / Un. a fast and energetic style of dance from the 1940s and 50s. It can also mean talk that is dishonest or does not make sense. If someone says you are talking jive, they think you are lying or being silly.
n. a lively style of dance popularised in the mid-20th century, or a variety of slang associated with jazz culture. In modern informal usage, it refers to deceptive, nonsensical, or pretentious talk.
The band played a fast song and everyone started to jive.
He tried to explain why he was late, but his boss knew it was just a bunch of jive.
While the dancers performed a flawless jive to the upbeat swing music, the older generation in the corner dismissed the new youth culture as nothing more than loud noise and jive.
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”).