jockey

American  

[jok-ee] / ˈdʒɒk i /

noun

plural

jockeys

1. a person who rides horses professionally in races.

2. Informal. a person who pilots, operates, or guides the movement of something, as an airplane or automobile.

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verb (used with object)

jockeyed, jockeying

1. to ride (a horse) as a jockey.

2. Informal. to operate or guide the movement of; pilot; drive.

3. to move, bring, put, etc., by skillful maneuvering.

   The movers jockeyed the sofa through the door.

4. to trick or cheat.

   The salesman jockeyed them into buying an expensive car.

5. to manipulate cleverly or trickily.

   He jockeyed himself into office.

verb (used without object)

jockeyed, jockeying

1. to aim at an advantage by skillful maneuvering.

2. to act trickily; seek an advantage by trickery.

jockey British  

/ ˈdʒɒkɪ /

noun

1. a person who rides horses in races, esp as a profession or for hire

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verb

1. 1. (tr) to ride (a horse) in a race

   2. (intr) to ride as a jockey

2. to try to obtain an advantage by manoeuvring, esp literally in a race or metaphorically, as in a struggle for power (esp in the phrase jockey for position )

3. to trick or cheat (a person)

Other Word Forms

• jockeyish adjective
• jockeylike adjective
• jockeyship noun

Etymology

Origin of jockey

First recorded in 1520–30 for an earlier sense; special use of Jock + -ey ²

Example Sentences

But the reasons for their departure also include personal wounds that have never healed, including jockeying over more classic corporate issues such as power and credit.

From The Wall Street Journal

I based my consistently bad calls—losing $5 or so—on the horse’s name and the colors of the jockey’s silks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Winning jockey Townend said after the race he was "fortunate" to be riding Gaelic Warrior, having been due to ride two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs before his withdrawal.

From BBC

But the annual horse race that is Oscars season, with movie stars and filmmakers jockeying for glory, has surged in activity.

From The Wall Street Journal

A mistake at the final fence almost cost Il Etait Temps the win, but jockey Paul Townend steered him over the line at the Festival's first Ladies Day in five years.

From BBC