jinks
C1Literary, Informal
Definition
Meaning
To frolic or romp in a lively, playful, or boisterous manner.
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'high jinks', referring to boisterous fun, mischievous activities, or playful pranks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'jinks' is almost exclusively used in the plural form 'jinks' and predominantly within the compound 'high jinks'. It denotes energetic and often mischievous playfulness, but not necessarily with malicious intent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both dialects use the term identically, predominantly in 'high jinks'. No significant usage difference.
Connotations
Slightly dated or literary flavour, evoking images of historical or rustic merrymaking.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, largely confined to the fixed expression.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun phrase] + were full of high jinks.The + [noun phrase] + involved much jinking.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “high jinks”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare, might be used metaphorically: 'The team-building retreat descended into corporate high jinks.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical or literary analysis of texts depicting festive scenes.
Everyday
Used humorously or nostalgically to describe lively, chaotic fun: 'The kids' birthday party was full of high jinks.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The children jinked about the garden, full of glee.
- He jinked through the crowd with playful agility.
American English
- The puppies jinked around the backyard in a wild chase.
- She jinked away from her brother's attempt to tag her.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children were having high jinks in the swimming pool.
- The film is a comedy about the high jinks of a group of university students.
- After the formal dinner, the high jinks began with pillow fights and silly songs.
- The memoir recounted the literary high jinks of Paris in the 1920s.
- The political satire was cleverly disguised beneath a surface of absurd high jinks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'JINKS' rhyming with 'DRINKS' – imagine the boisterous fun that might happen at a lively party.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLAYFUL ACTIVITY IS PHYSICAL BOUNCING/LEAPING (from the word's possible origin related to 'jink' meaning to move quickly/suddenly).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'джентльмен' (gentleman). The sounds are similar but meanings unrelated.
- Avoid translating 'high jinks' literally as 'высокие джинксы'. Use 'буйное веселье', 'озорство', 'проказы'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jink' as a singular countable noun (e.g., 'a jink'). It's effectively only plural.
- Misspelling as 'jinx' (which means a curse/bad luck).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a fixed idiom containing the word 'jinks'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is very uncommon. The word is almost fossilized within the idiom 'high jinks'. Using 'jinks' alone would sound archaic or poetic.
'Pranks' specifically imply a trick played on someone. 'Jinks' (in 'high jinks') is broader, covering any boisterous, lively fun, which may or may not include pranks.
Generally positive or neutral, describing energetic fun. However, it can have a slightly disapproving tone if the behaviour is considered too unruly or inappropriate for the setting.
Its etymology is uncertain. It may be related to the verb 'jink' (to move quickly/dodge), which itself is of Scottish origin. 'High jinks' originally referred to a dice game where the loser had to perform a silly task.