high-low-jack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “high-low-jack” mean?
A specific, low-stakes poker game or a children's card game.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific, low-stakes poker game or a children's card game.
Informally, can refer to any simple game or contest with a trivial outcome, or used to denote something of mixed or mediocre quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally archaic in both varieties. No significant regional difference in usage remains.
Connotations
Connotes old-fashioned simplicity, triviality, or a basic pastime.
Frequency
Effectively obsolete in contemporary speech and writing in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “high-low-jack” in a Sentence
[Subject] played high-low-jack.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high-low-jack” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They would often high-low-jack for pennies in the old pub.
American English
- We used to high-low-jack for matchsticks when we were kids.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Potentially in historical or game theory contexts only.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would be considered an obscure reference.
Technical
In historical texts about card games or probability.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high-low-jack”
- Using it as a modern term for poker.
- Hyphenating incorrectly (e.g., 'high low jack').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete card game rarely played in the modern era.
Yes, figuratively, to describe something of mixed or mediocre quality (e.g., 'a high-low-jack performance').
Listeners or readers will almost certainly not know the term, making communication ineffective.
The basic children's card game 'War' or 'Beggar-my-neighbour' share its simplistic, luck-based nature.
A specific, low-stakes poker game or a children's card game.
High-low-jack is usually informal, historical in register.
High-low-jack: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ləʊ ˈdʒæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ loʊ ˈdʒæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not exactly high-low-jack. (meaning: It's not trivial or simple)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIGH card, LOW card, and the JACK are important in this game: High-Low-Jack.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRIVIALITY IS A SIMPLE CARD GAME.
Practice
Quiz
'High-low-jack' primarily refers to: