clean and jerk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowsports, fitness, technical
Quick answer
What does “clean and jerk” mean?
A two-stage weightlifting movement where the athlete first lifts the barbell from the floor to the shoulders (clean), then from the shoulders to overhead (jerk).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A two-stage weightlifting movement where the athlete first lifts the barbell from the floor to the shoulders (clean), then from the shoulders to overhead (jerk).
The exercise itself; the competitive event in weightlifting; metaphorically used to describe any complex task performed in two distinct, forceful stages.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The sport's terminology is international. Minor pronunciation differences may exist.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both, confined to weightlifting contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “clean and jerk” in a Sentence
to clean and jerk [weight]the clean and jerka clean and jerk of [weight]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clean and jerk” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She aims to clean and jerk 120 kg at the next competition.
- He successfully cleaned and jerked a personal best.
American English
- Can he clean and jerk 400 pounds?
- She cleaned and jerked the weight with perfect form.
adverb
British English
- [Not typically used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not typically used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The clean-and-jerk portion of the event is next.
- He holds the clean-and-jerk record.
American English
- Her clean-and-jerk technique is flawless.
- The clean-and-jerk world record was broken.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in sports science papers discussing biomechanics, performance, or training.
Everyday
Rare outside of discussions about the Olympics, gym workouts, or fitness.
Technical
Central term in competitive weightlifting, with specific rules governing its execution.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clean and jerk”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clean and jerk”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clean and jerk”
- Writing it as 'clean & jerk' in formal contexts (use 'and').
- Using 'jerk' alone to refer to the full movement.
- Incorrectly capitalising all words unless it's a title.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is considered one complete Olympic lift, composed of two distinct, sequential movements (the clean followed by the jerk).
Yes, it can be used as a verb (e.g., 'She can clean and jerk 100 kg'). This usage is common in sports contexts.
In the snatch, the barbell is lifted from the floor to overhead in one continuous motion. In the clean and jerk, it is first brought to the shoulders (clean), then driven overhead (jerk).
The term 'jerk' refers to the fast, explosive drive where the athlete uses leg power and a swift arm extension to propel the barbell from the shoulders to a locked-out position overhead.
A two-stage weightlifting movement where the athlete first lifts the barbell from the floor to the shoulders (clean), then from the shoulders to overhead (jerk).
Clean and jerk is usually sports, fitness, technical in register.
Clean and jerk: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkliːn ən ˈdʒɜːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklin ən ˈdʒɝk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not an idiomatic phrase, but a technical compound]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of it like throwing a heavy suitcase onto a high shelf: first you lift it up first part of the way (clean), then you give it a final push to get it all the way up (jerk).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS WEIGHTLIFTING: 'That project was a real clean and jerk' implies a difficult, two-phase challenge.
Practice
Quiz
In a 'clean and jerk', what happens during the 'clean' phase?