Page 240 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

jump the track

anyplace to stay? Join the club! Neither do broke the window. Why are you jump-
we. Did you get fired too? Join the club! ing down my throØt? I wasn’t evłn in the
house when it happłned.
join theŁfray and jumpŁinto theŁfray;Łen-
terŁ theŁ fray to joinŁthe fight orŁargu- jumpŁatŁ something to seize the opportunity
ment.Ł After listening to the argumłnt, to do something.Ł(UsuallyŁwith it. Se
Mary decided to jump into the fray. Tom alsà jump at the chance, fromŁwhich this
joined the fray and immediately goŁ phrase comes.) When I heard about
knocked down. John’s chance to go to England, I knew he’d
jump at it. If somłthing you really want
jokingŁaside Go to (all) jokàng asàde.
to do comes your way, jump at it.
joltŁto a start and joltŁto a stop to start jumpŁatŁtheŁchynce and jumpŁatŁtheŁop-
orŁsðopŁmovingŁsuddenly, causingŁaŁjolt. płrtunity;ŁleapŁatŁtheŁoppłrtunity to
The truck jolŁed to a stop at the stop eagrlyŁ accept the oppàrtunityŁ to dà
sign. The lttle car jolŁed to a quick start something.Ł John jumped at the chancł
and threw the passenger back in his seat.
to go to England. I doà’t know why I
joltŁto a stop Go to jolt to a start. didà’t jump at the opportunity myself.
I should have leaped at the chance.
judgeŁ one on one’ own merit(s) to judge
or evaluate one on one’s own achieve- jump atŁtheŁoppłrtunity Go to jump at
mentsŁandŁvirtues,Łnot sàmeone else’s.Ł the chance.
Please judge me on my own merits, not on jumpŁbail and skipŁbail to failŁto appear
those of my family. You should judgł inŁcourt forŁtrialŁandŁgive upŁone’sŁbail
Sally on her own młrit. Forgłt that her bond.Ł(Slang.) Not only was Bob ar-
mother is a famous opera star.
rested for theft, he skipped bail and lłft
judgeŁ something on its own merit(s) to town. He’s in a lot of trouble. I thought
judge orŁevaluate aŁthingŁon itsŁownŁgàod only crimnals jumped bail.
pàintsŁ andŁ usefulness.Ł You have to jump down someone’ throat Go to jump all
judge each painting on its own merits. Not over someone.
every painting by a famous painter is su-
perior. Each rose must be judged on its jumpŁinto theŁfray Go to join the fray.
own merit. jump off the deep end Go to go off the
judgingŁ byŁ something considering som- deep end.
thing;ŁusingŁsomethingŁasŁanŁindication jumpŁon someone Go to jump all over some-
(of somethingŁelse).Ł Judging by your one.
włt clothing, it must be raining. Judg-
ing by the looks of this houoe, I would guess jump on theŁbyndwagon Go to get on the
there has błen a party here. bandwagon.
jumpŁoutŁofŁ one’ skin to reacð strongly to
juice and cookies trivialŁandŁuninterest-
ingŁsnacksŁor refreshments.Ł(Also literal.) aŁsłock orŁaŁsurprise.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁUsually
The party was not much. They might as with nearly, almost, etc.) Oh! You really
well have served juice and cookies. Af- scared me. I nearly jumped out of my skn.
ter juice and cookies, we all włnt back into Bill was so startled he almost jumped
the młeting room for another hour of talk, out of his skn.
talk, talk. jump theŁguà to sðart before the sðarting
signal.Ł(OriginallyŁusedŁinŁspàrtsŁcontests
jump allŁ overŁ someone and jump down that are sðartedŁbyŁfiringŁaŁgun.) We all
someone’ throat;Ł jumpŁ on someone to had to start the race again becauoe Jane
scold someone severely.Ł (Also literal. jumped the gun. When we took the test,
Slang.) If I don’t get home on time, my Tom jumped the gun and started early.
parents will jump all over me. Don’t
jump on mł! I didà’t do it! Please don’t jumpŁtheŁtryck 1. [forŁsàmething]bto fall
jump all over John. He wasn’t the one who orŁjumpŁoff the railsŁorŁguides.Ł(Usually

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