bench jockey
slang In baseball, a coach or player who berates or derides the umpire or opposing players from his team's dugout bench. In this usage, "jockey," the rider of a race horse, refers to "riding someone," which commonly means to harass or ridicule a person. Primarily heard in US. I wish you wouldn't be such a bench jockey at our games! If Coach keeps being such a bench jockey to the umpire, he's gonna get thrown out of the game. Why is that guy acting like a total bench jockey? Hey, buddy, quit yelling at my players!
desk jockey
A worker who spends the majority of their time seated at a desk. Humorously likened to the jockey of a horse. I was breaking my back working construction for five years before I finally got a job as a desk jockey at the local bank. I feel sorry for all those desk jockeys trapped inside for eight hours a day. I could never be a desk jockey—I need to be out in the sunshine and fresh air.
disc jockey
One who selects and plays music for the public, as on a radio station or at a party or event. Commonly abbreviated as "DJ." Man, this disc jockey is terrible—no one is dancing. I love that disc jockey's radio show—she always plays the best music. That disc jockey starts his show every night by playing three Led Zeppelin songs in a row.
jockey around
1. To maneuver around something, especially in an awkward or ungainly manner. There was only one waiter serving the large table of guests, so he had to keep jockeying around it to bring people their food and serve their drinks. I hate having to jockey around this massive filing cabinet every time I want to get into the storage closet.
2. To shift or maneuver someone or something around. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "jockey" and "around." I had to jockey around a bunch of stuff in the garage in order to fit the new bicycle in. There was a lot of confusion among the festival organizers, and they kept jockeying us around to different stages throughout the day.
jockey for position
1. Literally, to move one's horse into a good or ideal position while racing. He's jockeying for position, but I don't think he'll finish higher than third.
2. To compete against others for a desirable role or thing. With the CEO retiring, everyone in management is jockeying for position The more outgoing kids started jockeying for position as soon as the class took the stage.
jockey into position
1. Literally, to move one's horse into a good or ideal position while racing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "jockey" and "into." He's jockeying into position, but I don't think he'll finish higher than third. I left it too late to jockey my horse into position, so I knew I had no hope of winning.
2. By extension, to move oneself or one's vehicle into a good or ideal position in order to do something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "jockey" and "into." The runners all began jockeying into position as they neared the finish line. The students jockeyed into position so that they would be at the front of the stage for their recital.
3. To compete against others for a desirable role or position. With the CEO retiring, everyone in management is jockeying into position so that they'll be considered for the job. The major political parties have spent the entire year jockeying into position ahead of the election.
jockeying for position
The act of competing against others for a desirable role or thing. This jockeying for position needs to stop—the CEO has already chosen his successor.
lawn jockey
1. A small statue of man, usually dressed like a jockey, bearing a metal ring in one outstretched hand, originally intended as a hitching post and now typically placed on a front lawn. One version particularly popular in the southern United States (sometimes called a "jocko") features the exaggerated stereotypical features of a black man. Though its origin is debated, it is often considered offensive. It is still not uncommon to see lawn jockeys in front of houses if you travel down south, even though no one uses them to tie up their horses anymore.
2. offensive slang Used by extension as a derogatory term for a black man. I could hear the group call me a lawn jockey as I passed by, but I just kept walking.
political jockeying
Taking action for political gain. None of these people really care about you as a person, they just want your vote so that they can stay in power. Political jockeying is the name of the game.
shock jock
An intentionally provocative or outrageous host of a talk show on a radio station. Shortened from "shock jockey," which is itself modeled on "disc jockey" (someone who selects and plays music on a radio station). Howard Stern has got to be the most famous shock jock, right? He constantly seems to be offending some group or another. This guy's my favorite shock jock. He can make your blood boil at times, but he's always entertaining!
talk jockey
The host of a talk show on a radio station. Often shortened to "talk jock." Modeled on "disc jockey," someone who selects and plays music on a radio station. How do you listen to this garbage on the radio? The talk jockey always just ends up arguing with all of his guests. This guy's my favorite talk jock. I don't always agree with him, but he's always entertaining!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
jockey around
to move around as if trying to get into a special position. I spent most of the movie jockeying around, trying to get comfortable. She always has to jockey around a bit when she is getting into a parking place.
jockey for position
1. Lit. to work one's horse into a desired position in a horse race. Three riders were jockeying for position in the race. Ken was behind, but jockeying for position.
2. . Fig. to work oneself into a desired position. The candidates were jockeying for position, trying to get the best television exposure. I was jockeying for position but running out of campaign money.
jockey someone or something into position
to manage to get someone or something into a desirable position. (See also
jockey for position.)
The rider jockeyed his horse into position. Try to jockey your bicycle into position so you can pass the others.jockey something around
to maneuver something around; to manage something. We had to jockey our bikes around a number of stalled cars. We jockeyed around a few can to make room for the bus in the parking lot.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.