jerk

jerk¹ [dʒə:k US dʒə:rk] v

[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Probably from yerk 'to hit, pull suddenly' (16-19 centuries)]

1.) [I and T]

to move with a quick sudden movement, or to make part of your body move in this way

▪ Wilcox jerked his head to indicate that they should move on.

▪ 'Is that the only way out of here?' he asked, jerking a thumb at the door.

jerk back/up/forwards etc

▪ Suddenly he jerked back in his chair.

▪ The sound of the phone jerked me awake .

2.) [I and T]

to pull something suddenly and roughly

jerk at

▪ Doyle jerked at the girl's hair, to make her sit down.

▪ She jerked open the car door and got out.

jerk around [jerk sb around] phr v

to waste someone's time or deliberately make things difficult for them

jerk off phr v

to ↑masturbate

jerk out [jerk out sth] phr v

to say something quickly and nervously

▪ 'Don't lie,' she jerked out.

jerk ²

jerk² n

[Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: JERK¹]

[Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Probably from jerk off]

1.) a sudden quick movement

▪ He gave a sudden jerk of his head .

with a jerk

▪ She started the car with a jerk and hit the bumper of the car in front.

2.) informal someone, especially a man, who is stupid or who does things that annoy or hurt other people

▪ I swore at him for being such a jerk.