jive

[jahyv]

noun

1. swing music or early jazz.

2. the jargon associated with swing music and early jazz.

3. Slang.,  deceptive, exaggerated, or meaningless talk.

   Don't give me any of that jive!

verb (used without object)

jived, jiving 

1. to play jive.

2. to dance to jive; jitterbug.

3. Slang.,  to engage in kidding, teasing, or exaggeration.

verb (used with object)

jived, jiving 

1. Slang.,  to tease; fool; kid.

   Stop jiving me!

adjective

1. Slang.,  insincere, pretentious, or deceptive.

jive

/ dʒaɪv /

noun

1. a style of lively and jerky dance performed to jazz and, later, to rock and roll, popular esp in the 1940s and 1950s

2. Also called: jive talk. a variety of American slang spoken chiefly by Black people, esp jazz musicians

3. 1. slang,  deliberately misleading or deceptive talk

   2. ( as modifier )

      jive talk

verb

1. (intr) to dance the jive

2. slang,  to mislead; tell lies (to)

Other Word Forms

• jiver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jive¹

First recorded in 1925–30; origin obscure; alleged to be an alteration of gibe ¹, though the shift in sense and phonetic change are unexplained

Word History and Origins

Origin of jive¹

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

“Little bit of Neil Diamond,” he said as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra revved up the go-go self-improvement jive of “Crunchy Granola Suite.”

From Los Angeles Times

He had been a singles skater but turning jumps into jives is not an overnight job.

From BBC

The contrasts between the walkouts was stark, with Thainara enthusiastically jiving her way to the octagon and McCann showing typical focus and intensity.

From BBC

But Robbins didn’t jive with the newspaper’s conservative slant.

From Los Angeles Times

The singer took part in the Strictly Christmas special over a decade ago, where he was crowned winner after dancing a jive.

From BBC

Related Words

• chat 
• comment 
• communication 
• conference 
• consultation 
• debate 
• discussion 
• exchange 
• gossip 
• hearing 
• observation 
• questioning 
• remark 
• speech 
• talk 
• visit