jam (redirected from jams)

*in a bind and *in a jam

Fig. in a tight or difficult situation; stuck on a problem. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; find oneself ~.) I'm in a bind. I owe a lot of money. Whenever I get into a jam, I ask my supervisor for help. When things get busy around here, we get in a bind. We could use another helper.

See also: bind

get someone out of a jam

Fig. to get someone out of trouble. Thanks for getting my brother out of that jam. How am I going to get myself out of this jam?

See also: get, out

get out of a jam

Fig. to get free from a problem or a bad situation. Would you lend me five hundred dollars? I need it to get out of a jam. I need some help getting out of a jam.

See also: get, out

get out of a jam

Fig. to get free from a problem or a bad situation. Would you lend me five hundred dollars? I need it to get out of a jam. I need some help getting out of a jam.

See also: get, out

in(to) a jam

Fig. in(to) a difficult situation. Mary cannot keep track of the many times Dave got himself into a jam. I found myself in a jam when my car overheated on the highway.

jam someone or something (into something) and jam someone or something in

to force or compress someone or something into something or some place. Sam jammed all his clothes into the canvas bag. The conductor jammed all the passengers into one car. Don't jam in everything! They had to jam themselves into the tiny room, because there was no other place to meet.

jam someone or something together

to pack people or things close together. The usher jammed everybody together so more people could be seated. Don't just jam the boxes together! Sort them out first.

See also: together

jam something (up) with something

to clog something with something. Time had jammed the pipe up with rust. Time had jammed up the pipe with rust. Jam the hole with a cloth so nothing else will leak out.

jam something together

to assemble something hastily or carelessly. The fragile contents were just jammed together in one box and everything was broken. The thing was just jammed together with no care at all.

See also: together

jam something up 

1. to clog up something; to impede or block the movement of or through something. Rachel jammed traffic up when her car stalled. All the leaves and branches jammed up the sewer.

2. Fig. to force something upwards in haste or anger. Who jammed the window up? Wally jammed up the window and nearly broke it.

See also: up

jam something up something

to thrust something up something. She poked the broom handle up the chimney, hoping to force the bird to fly out. She jammed it up a few times, but it had no effect.

See also: up

jam session

an informal session where musicians play together. Andy and Nick had a jam session last night and kept all the neighbors awake.

See also: session

jam the brakes on

to press down hard on a vehicle's brakes. Alice jammed the brakes on and the car skidded all over the place. She jammed on the brakes.

See also: brake

jam with someone

to play music in an improvised band with someone. Andy loves to jam with the other students. Let's set up a time when we can jam with the others.

traffic jam

vehicle traffic that is so heavy and slow that it can no longer move. Going to the airport, we got stuck in a traffic jam for nearly and hour and missed our plane.

See also: traffic

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be in (a bit of) a jam  (old-fashioned)

to be in a difficult situation I'm in bit of a jam. Could you possibly lend me some money till next week?

be money for old rope  (British informal) also be money for jam (British informal)

if a job is money for old rope, it is an easy way of earning money Babysitting is money for old rope if the children go to sleep early. Most people think being a professional footballer is money for jam.

See also: money, old, rope

jam tomorrow  (British)

something that you want which you are told you will get soon but which never appears Nobody will accept a pay cut, and it's not enough to promise jam tomorrow.

See also: tomorrow

What more do you want - jam on it?  (british informal)

used to say that someone should be grateful for what they have or have been offered, and not demand something better They've given him a holiday in Italy. What more does he want - jam on it?

See also: more, want

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in a bind

forced to deal with a difficult situation Ashworth felt he was in a bind, with two completely different sets of directions he was supposed to follow.

Related vocabulary: in a tight spot

See also: bind