jimjams
LowInformal, Humorous, Colloquial
Definition
Meaning
A state of nervousness, anxiety, or unease; the jitters.
A British English term for pyjamas, primarily used in informal speech (though less common than 'pyjamas').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Two distinct senses exist in British English: 1) A state of nervous agitation (often 'the jimjams'), which is more common. 2) Pyjamas, which is dated and often used humorously or by/with children. The word is largely confined to UK, Australian, and New Zealand English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Commonly understood in British English for both 'nervousness' and 'pyjamas' (though the latter is dated). Almost entirely unknown in contemporary American English, except perhaps in very old-fashioned or literary contexts for 'pyjamas'. The nervousness sense would be confusing to most American listeners.
Connotations
UK: Informal, slightly old-fashioned or whimsical, can be childish for the pyjamas sense. US: Obsolete/non-existent.
Frequency
Very low frequency overall; higher relative frequency in informal UK contexts, especially with older speakers or in humorous/jocular use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[get/have] the jimjamsthe jimjams [verb: came over, struck] himVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'He gave me the jimjams' (meaning: he made me feel nervous/uneasy).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Never used.
Everyday
Rare, informal, jocular, or familial use in UK/AU/NZ contexts, typically among older generations or when aiming for a humorous tone.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - Not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A - Not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - Not used as an adjective.
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Before the big speech, I always get the jimjams.
- Put your jimjams on; it's time for bed.
- The eerie silence of the old house gave her the jimjams.
- He dismissed the threat, but it left me with a lingering case of the jimjams.
- The market's volatility is enough to give even seasoned investors the jimjams.
- Her nonchalant attitude towards the danger only heightened my jimjams.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person named 'Jim' who is so nervous he's 'jamming' his fingers together – he's got the 'jimjams'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NERVOUSNESS IS A PHYSICAL AGITATION/SHAKING (implied in the reduplicative, jangling sound of the word).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do NOT confuse with 'джем' (jam). The word is not related to food. For the nervousness sense, think of 'нервная дрожь', 'тревога'. For the pyjamas sense, it is simply a synonym for 'пижама'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it in American English where it is not understood.
- Confusing the two distinct British senses (nervousness vs. sleepwear).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'jimjams' most likely to be understood to mean 'a state of nervousness'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily British English (and related varieties like Australian). It is not part of standard contemporary American English.
Yes, in British English it can be a dated or humorous/childish word for pyjamas, but the 'nervousness' sense is more common for the word itself.
It's typically used with the definite article 'the': 'I've got the jimjams about the exam tomorrow.'
It's a reduplicative formation from the late 19th century, likely a fanciful alteration, possibly influenced by 'jimmy' (a state of agitation) or simply a nonsense rhyme. The pyjamas sense is a separate, later corruption of 'pyjamas'.
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