jackstraws
LowInformal, chiefly US
Definition
Meaning
A game where players take turns trying to remove individual straws (now often plastic or wooden sticks) from a tangled heap without disturbing the others.
The sticks or pieces used in this game. By extension, can refer to something flimsy, insignificant, or easily toppled.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily known as the name of the game. The singular 'jackstraw' is rarely used outside of referring to a single piece in the set. Often used synonymously with 'pick-up sticks' in American English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the game is far more commonly known as 'spillikins' or 'pick-up sticks'. 'Jackstraws' is an archaic or less common term in the UK.
Connotations
In American English, 'jackstraws' has a slightly old-fashioned, perhaps rustic or traditional connotation compared to the more generic 'pick-up sticks'.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, though even there it is being largely replaced by 'pick-up sticks'. Extremely low frequency in modern British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to play jackstrawsa set of jackstrawsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scattered like jackstraws (describing disorder)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, potentially in historical or cultural studies of games.
Everyday
Used when referring to the specific game, often by older generations or in nostalgic contexts.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We played jackstraws on the floor.
- The children enjoyed a quiet game of jackstraws on the rainy afternoon.
- Finding the old box of jackstraws in the attic brought back fond memories of childhood summers.
- The game of jackstraws, requiring a steady hand and keen perception, is a deceptively simple test of fine motor control.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jack' trying to pick up individual 'straws' from a messy pile without making the whole heap fall down.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHAOS IS A TANGLE OF JACKSTRAWS (e.g., 'After the explosion, the beams lay like a pile of jackstraws.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'соломинки Джека'. It is the name of a game: 'игра в бирюльки' or 'палочки' (as in настольная игра).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jackstraw' as a singular count noun for a person (incorrect). Treating it as a mass noun (e.g., 'some jackstraws' is correct for the pieces).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'jackstraws' the most common term for the game of picking up sticks?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern American usage, they refer to the same game. 'Jackstraws' is the older, more specific name.
Rarely. It might refer to a single piece in the set, but the term is almost always used in the plural to name the game.
No, it has low frequency. The more universally understood term is 'pick-up sticks'.
The traditional British name is 'spillikins', though 'pick-up sticks' is now widely understood.