A jerk is a sharp, sudden movement. When you're learning to drive a stick shift, it’s hard to avoid the jerk and lurch when you try to change gears. Jerk is also a very unflattering term for an obnoxious person.
Although you will most commonly hear the derogatory jerk as in "Don't be such a jerk," there are many other meanings of the word. ""Clean and jerk" is an Olympic weightlifting event where you lift a barbell in one "clean" movement, then, in one quick thrust — the jerk — you lift the weight above your head. Jerk can also mean making a sharp, sudden move — like a dog jerks on his chain. You may have eaten jerk, also called jerky — strips of dried meat — handy for lunchboxes and camping.
1 |
nv |
a sudden abrupt pull
move with abrupt, seemingly uncontrolled motions
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2 |
n |
a dull stupid fatuous person
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3 |
n |
meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sun
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