juggle
B1Informal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To keep two or more objects moving through the air by repeatedly catching and throwing them as a skill or performance.
To manage or try to deal with several tasks, responsibilities, or commitments simultaneously.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The literal meaning (physical performance) is less frequent than the metaphorical meaning (managing multiple tasks). Often implies difficulty and careful coordination.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Equally neutral/informal in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English in business/management contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
juggle [OBJECTS]juggle [TASKS]juggle [OBJECTS] and [TASKS]juggle with [TASKS]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “juggling act”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe managing multiple projects, clients, or deadlines.
Academic
Rare; may appear in time management or psychology studies.
Everyday
Common for discussing work-life balance, parenting, or personal schedules.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He had to juggle his uni studies with a part-time job.
- Can you juggle three tennis balls?
American English
- She juggles a full-time job and volunteer work.
- The clown juggled flaming torches.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- Juggling clown (as a compound adjective).
- N/A
American English
- His juggling skills are impressive.
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The clown can juggle five balls.
- I am learning to juggle.
- It's hard to juggle work and family life.
- She juggles her time between two jobs.
- Managers often have to juggle conflicting priorities and tight budgets.
- He successfully juggled his academic research with teaching responsibilities.
- The documentary highlights the near-impossible juggling act faced by single parents in the gig economy.
- Politicians must constantly juggle public opinion, party loyalty, and personal conviction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
JUGGLE sounds like 'jiggle' – imagine your hands jiggling quickly to keep balls in the air.
Conceptual Metaphor
MANAGING MULTIPLE TASKS IS JUGGLING OBJECTS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'жонглировать' only in the literal sense; the metaphorical use is very common in English.
- Do not confuse with 'to manage' ('управлять') which is more general; 'juggle' implies simultaneous, often competing, demands.
Common Mistakes
- Using it without an object (incorrect: 'She is juggling.' correct: 'She is juggling tasks.')
- Using the preposition 'with' incorrectly (often acceptable: 'juggle with balls', but more common without: 'juggle balls').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'juggle' metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its most common modern use is metaphorical, for managing tasks or responsibilities.
It is acceptable but considered somewhat informal. 'Manage', 'balance', or 'coordinate' might be preferred in very formal contexts.
The gerund 'juggling' is used as a noun (e.g., 'the juggling of commitments'). 'Juggler' is the person who juggles.
It can imply both. 'She juggles many tasks' suggests she manages them. 'He's juggling too much' might imply he is struggling.