jones
C1Informal, slang.
Definition
Meaning
A strong, often compulsive desire or craving, typically for a drug but extended to other intense longings.
A deep-seated, persistent fixation or yearning for something (e.g., success, fame, a person); to act on or suffer from such a craving; also a placeholder surname.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in informal/spoken contexts. The sense of 'craving' originated in US drug slang (1960s). As a verb, it often appears in the progressive tense ('jonesing'). As a noun, commonly preceded by a determiner ('a jones', 'the jones', 'my jones').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang senses (craving, to crave) are markedly more common and entrenched in American English. In British English, the word is overwhelmingly recognized as a common surname, with the slang usage understood but used less frequently and often perceived as an Americanism.
Connotations
In AmE, strongly associated with counterculture and addiction lexicons; can be used humorously for non-drug cravings. In BrE, the slang use often carries a conscious stylistic borrowing from AmE, adding a casual or 'hip' tone.
Frequency
High frequency in AmE informal speech for expressing cravings. Low frequency in BrE for the slang sense; high frequency as a proper noun/surname in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to jones for [something]to have a jones for [something]to be jonesing (for [something])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keeping up with the Joneses (idiom referring to competitive social comparison with neighbours).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical, informal use: 'The company has a jones for disruptive tech.'
Academic
Virtually non-existent except in sociological/linguistic studies of slang.
Everyday
Common in AmE informal speech to describe strong cravings. In BrE, primarily as a surname or in the idiom 'Keeping up with the Joneses.'
Technical
Used in addiction counseling and related literature (informally).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- After a week off, I'm absolutely jonesing for a proper cup of tea.
- He's been jonesing for a new football kit since the season started.
American English
- I'm jonesing for a burger right now.
- She's been jonesing to get back on the slopes since her injury healed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His name is Mr. Jones.
- We live next door to the Jones family.
- Many people try to keep up with the Joneses by buying new cars.
- She has a real Jones for chocolate; she eats some every day.
- After quitting coffee, he had a serious jones for caffeine for about a week.
- The film portrays a musician jonesing for his next fix.
- The political candidate was clearly jonesing for the approval of the urban elite, modifying his speech accordingly.
- Her lifelong jones for validation stemmed from a competitive upbringing.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone named **Jones** who has one, overpowering **craving** that defines them – they *are* their jones.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE/ADDICTION IS A PERSON (Jones) who controls you. A CRAVING IS A POSSESSION ('I have a jones').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the slang noun/verb with a person's name (Джоунс). Use conceptual equivalents like 'навязчивая тяга', 'ломка' (for withdrawal), 'испытывать сильную потребность'. The idiom 'Keeping up with the Joneses' translates as 'не отставать от других' or 'соответствовать уровню соседей'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing. *'The study examined the jones for social media.' (Incorrect register). Using it as a countable noun without an article: *'He has jones for fame.' (Correct: 'He has a jones for fame.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the slang use of 'jones' as a verb LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin is in drug slang, it is now widely used informally for any strong craving (e.g., 'a jones for pizza', 'jonesing for a holiday').
Almost never. It is firmly in the domain of informal and slang registers. The exception is its use as a proper surname or in the fixed idiom 'Keeping up with the Joneses.'
'To jones' is more informal, vivid, and often implies a compulsive, physical, or habitual aspect. 'To crave' is more standard and can be used in wider contexts.
It is a regular verb: jones, jonesed, jonesed. However, the present participle 'jonesing' is by far the most common form in use (e.g., 'I am jonesing for...').
Explore