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, jiv·ing.

1. to play jive.
2. to dance to jive; jitterbug.
3. Slang. to engage in kidding, teasing, or exaggeration.

verb (used with object)

, jived, jiv·ing.

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 calledjive talk a variety of American slang spoken chiefly by Black people, esp jazz musicians
3. 1. deliberately misleading or deceptive talk
   2. ( as modifier )

      jive talk

verb

1. intr to dance the jive
2. slang.
   to mislead; tell lies (to)

Derived Forms

• ˈjiver, noun

Other Words From

• jiver 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

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

From BBC

But the couple still enjoy dancing, and have worked together to choreograph a new jive routine inspired by dogs, capturing their spirit at their favourite time of day - dinner time.

From BBC

Every time Dorothy and her comrades reprised “Ease on Down the Road,” the woman next to me couldn’t resist joining them with some impromptu hand jive.

From Los Angeles Times

They drove the car, with its dented fender and chipping maroon paint, through the streets playing music and delighting Carnival revelers who jumped and jived in their wake, said Macedo, 65.

From Seattle Times

There was a girl dancing the jive who looked exactly like her.

From BBC

Related Words

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