Definition

1. Noun:

   • A mechanical lifting device: A tool used to raise heavy objects, especially vehicles.
   • A playing card: One of the four face cards in a deck, bearing the picture of a young prince or soldier.
   • A small, six-pointed metal object: A piece used in the children's game of jacks.
   • A male donkey.
   • A sailor; a common man: An informal term for a man, often a laborer.
   • A small flag: Especially one flown on a ship to indicate nationality.
   • A connector: An electrical socket designed to receive a plug.
   • A worthless amount: Used informally to mean "nothing at all."

2. Verb:

   • To lift with a jack: To raise something, especially a vehicle, using a mechanical device.
   • To hunt with a jacklight: To hunt at night using a bright light.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • We need a jack to change the flat tire.
  • He drew the jack of hearts from the deck.
  • The kids are playing with a ball and a set of jacks.
  • Every man jack of them helped with the move. (informal)
  • You don't know jack about computers. (slang)

• Verb:

  • Please jack up the car so I can look underneath.
  • It is illegal to jack deer in this state.

Advanced Usage

• "Jack of all trades": A person who can do many different types of work.

  • He's a real jack of all trades; he can fix cars, build furniture, and program computers.

• "Jack up" (phrasal verb):

  • To raise with a jack: We had to jack up the house to repair the foundation.
  • To increase sharply (informal): The company jacked up its prices last month.
  • To abandon or quit (slang): He jacked up his job and moved to the coast.

Variants and Related Words

• Jackpot (n): The top prize in a game or lottery.
• Jackknife (n/v): A large pocketknife; (for a truck) to fold sharply.
• Lumberjack (n): A person who fells trees.
• Union Jack (n): The national flag of the United Kingdom.

Synonyms

• Lift, raise (verb)
• Mechanic, laborer, worker (noun, for a man)
• Nothing, zero, zilch (noun, for a worthless amount, slang)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Jack in (slang): To stop doing something, to quit.
  • I'm going to jack in this job and find a new one.
• Jack around (slang): To waste time or mess about.
  • Stop jacking around and get to work!

Related Idioms

• Before you could say Jack Robinson: Very quickly or suddenly.
  • He was gone before you could say Jack Robinson.
• Jack of all trades, master of none: Said of someone who is competent in many skills but is not outstanding in any particular one.
• Hit the jackpot: To have great success or luck, especially in winning money.
  • She really hit the jackpot with that investment.

Verb

1. hunt with a jacklight
2. lift with a special device
   • jack up the car so you can change the tire

Noun

1. male donkey
2. any of several fast-swimming predacious fishes of tropical to warm temperate seas
3. tool for exerting pressure or lifting
4. one of four face cards in a deck bearing a picture of a young prince
5. small flag indicating a ship's nationality
6. game equipment consisting of one of several small six-pointed metal pieces that are picked up while bouncing a ball in the game of jacks
7. an electrical device consisting of a connector socket designed for the insertion of a plug
8. a small ball at which players aim in lawn bowling
9. immense East Indian fruit resembling breadfruit; it contains an edible pulp and nutritious seeds that are commonly roasted
10. someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor
11. a man who serves as a sailor
12. a small worthless amount
    • you don't know jack