jumping-jack

A child plays with a jumping-jack toy on the floor.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A toy: "jumping-jack" refers to a small toy figure of a person, typically with jointed limbs, that can be made to jump or dance by pulling a string or rod attached to its body. The limbs are usually attached with strings or pivots, allowing them to move in a jerky, animated manner when the central string is pulled.
   • An exercise: In physical fitness, "jumping-jack" is an exercise performed by jumping to a position with the legs spread wide and the hands touching overhead, then returning to a standing position with the feet together and arms at the sides. This is often done repeatedly as a calisthenic movement.

Usage Examples

• Toy:

  • The child played with a jumping-jack, pulling the string to make its arms and legs flop. (A toy figure that moves when a string is pulled.)
  • He carved a wooden jumping-jack as a gift for his nephew. (A handmade toy with movable limbs.)

• Exercise:

  • She did twenty jumping-jacks as part of her warm-up routine. (A physical exercise involving jumping and spreading arms and legs.)
  • The teacher asked the class to do jumping-jacks to get their energy out. (Repeated calisthenic movement.)

Advanced Usage

• "to do a jumping-jack": to perform the exercise movement.

  • After sitting for hours, he stood up and did a jumping-jack to stretch. (He executed one full repetition of the exercise.)

• "jumping-jack flash": a slang term for a sudden, energetic movement or event, inspired by the exercise or toy.

  • He moved with jumping-jack flash, startling everyone in the room. (He moved suddenly and energetically.)

Variants and Related Words

• Jumping-jack (n): the single word form is used for both the toy and the exercise; no common variants exist.
• Jack (n): a shortened, informal term for the toy.
  • He pulled the jack's string to make it dance. (Informal reference to the toy.)

Synonyms

• For the toy: pull-toy, marionette (though a marionette is more complex and uses multiple strings).
• For the exercise: star jump (a common synonym in British English), jumping jack (often written without a hyphen).

Phrasal Verbs

• Jump into: to begin something suddenly or enthusiastically, though not directly related to "jumping-jack."
  • He jumped into the exercise routine with a series of jumping-jacks. (He started quickly with that specific movement.)

Related Idioms

• No direct idioms: The word "jumping-jack" does not appear in common idiomatic expressions, but its energetic nature is sometimes referenced in phrases like "jump like a jumping-jack" to describe jerky, uncontrolled movement.