Jack (redirected from on jack)

All work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy).

something that you say which means people who work all the time become boring. You need to get out more in the evenings. You know what they say about all work and no play...

See also: all, play, work

before you can say Jack Robinson (old-fashioned)

if you say that something happens before you can say Jack Robinson, it happens very suddenly. I offered her a chocolate but before you could say Jack Robinson she'd eaten half the box.

See also: before, can, Robinson, say

every man jack (of us/them) (old-fashioned, old-fashioned)

every single person. If you sack me the others will walk out too, every man jack of them. Every last man of us is ready to fight for their country.

See also: every, man

a jack of all trades

someone who has many skills or who does many different jobs. Bill can do plumbing, carpentry, or a bit of gardening - he's a jack of all trades, really.

See also: all, trade

a Jack the Lad (British, informal, old-fashioned)

a confident and not very serious young man who behaves as he wants to without thinking about other people. Three children with three different women? Well, he always was a bit of a Jack the Lad.

See also: lad

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all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)

it is not good to work all the time. You need to get out and have fun — you know, all work and no play.

See also: all, play, work

jack up something

to increase something steeply. Credit card companies have jacked up interest rates on most of their accounts. The company decided to jack up the amount of protein in its animal feed.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of jack up something (= to raise something using a special device called a jack)

jacked up on something

made very excited and enthusiastic. My kids love to spend an afternoon at the video arcade with hundreds of other screaming kids jacked up on cola and pizza.