jekyll and hyde
C1Literary, journalistic, informal
Definition
Meaning
A person who displays two completely different personalities or moral characters, one good and one evil.
Refers to any person, situation, or entity that exhibits a drastic duality in nature, behavior, or character, often where one aspect is benevolent and the other malevolent or destructive.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always used as a singular noun phrase (a Jekyll and Hyde). The term is capitalized as it originates from proper names. It implies not just changeability, but a profound and often disturbing split within a single identity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and frequency. The cultural reference is equally well-known.
Connotations
Slightly stronger literary connection in British English due to Robert Louis Stevenson's Scottish origin.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] is a real Jekyll and Hyde.He has a Jekyll and Hyde personality.The [situation/company] revealed its Jekyll and Hyde nature.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a Jekyll and Hyde existence”
- “to lead a Jekyll and Hyde life”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe companies with contrasting public and private practices, or executives with volatile management styles.
Academic
Used in psychology, literature, and sociology to discuss duality, dissociative identity, or moral hypocrisy.
Everyday
Describes someone who is kind in one context and cruel in another, like a friendly neighbour who is a tyrant at home.
Technical
Rare in hard sciences; sometimes used in computing to describe software with a benign interface and malicious backend.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation was alarming.
- She has a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality.
American English
- His Jekyll-and-Hyde switch was sudden.
- It was a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My boss is a Jekyll and Hyde. He is nice in meetings but shouts at us later.
- The politician was accused of leading a Jekyll and Hyde existence, preaching family values while engaging in corruption.
- The corporation's Jekyll and Hyde nature was exposed when its philanthropic front was revealed to be a facade for exploitative labour practices.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Jekyll' sounds like 'Jackal' (a cunning animal) and 'Hyde' sounds like 'Hide' (to conceal). A person who hides a jackal-like nature.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SELF IS A CONTAINER WITH TWO WARRING INHABITANTS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the names. Use the established calque 'Джекилл и Хайд' or the descriptive phrase 'человек с двойственной натурой'.
- Do not confuse with 'шизофреник', which is a specific medical diagnosis.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a plural (*Jekylls and Hydes).
- Using it as a verb (*He Jekyll-and-Hydes every weekend).
- Misspelling 'Hyde' as 'Hide'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the essential implication of calling someone a 'Jekyll and Hyde'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it should always be capitalized as it is derived from the proper names of fictional characters.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to describe anything with a dual nature, such as a city, a policy, or a historical period.
It can be pejorative when describing a person, implying deceitfulness or dangerous instability. It is not a clinical term for dissociative identity disorder and should be used with care.
It comes from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella 'Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde', in which the respectable Dr. Jekyll transforms into the evil Mr. Hyde.