jerk (redirected from jerks)

jack someone around and jerk someone around

Sl. to give someone a difficult time; to harass someone. Come on! Stop jacking me around! Max started jerking Lefty around, and it looked as if there was going to be trouble. You jack around everyone you know!

See also: around, jack

jack around and jerk around

sl. to waste time. Stop jacking around and get some work done! The kids spend most of the day jerking around.

See also: around, jack

jerk someone or something out of something and jerk someone or something out

to pull someone or something out of something sharply and quickly. She jerked the baby out of the crib and ran from the burning room. I jerked the puppy out of the mud. She jerked out the puppy before it got soaked.

See also: out

jerk someone around and jerk someone over

to hassle someone; to waste someone's time. Stop jerking me around and give me my money back. They sure like to jerk around people in that music shop.

See also: around

jerk something away (from someone, something, or an animal)

to snatch something away or quickly pull something back from someone or an animal. I jerked the bone away from the dog. Kelly jerked the ant poison away from the child. Mary jerked her hand away from the fire.

See also: away

jerk something off (of) someone or something and jerk something off

to snatch or quickly pull something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) Alice jerked the top off the box and poured out the contents. She jerked off the box top.

jerk something out of someone or something and jerk something out

to pull something out of someone or something quickly. The doctor jerked the arrow out of Bill's leg. He jerked out the arrow.

See also: out

jerk something up 

1. to pull something up quickly. He jerked his belt up tight. He jerked up the zipper to his jacket.

2. to lift up something, such as ears, quickly. The dog jerked its ears up. The dog jerked up its ears when it heard the floor creak. The soldier jerked his binoculars up to try to see the sniper.

See also: up

knee-jerk reaction

Fig. an automatic or reflex reaction; an immediate reaction made without examining causes or facts. With one of his typical knee-jerk reactions, he said no immediately, citing some moral argument that no one understood.

See also: reaction

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jerk somebody around

to deceive someone about whether or not you intend to do something They've been jerking us around for a long time, first by not offering us a contract or then by saying they won't sign one.

See also: around

jerk off (rude)

to rub your sex organs with your hand The only naked male I saw before I got married was a farm worker jerking off in a barn.