jump-start
B2informal, technical (automotive)
Definition
Meaning
To start a vehicle with a dead battery by connecting it to another vehicle's battery or an external power source; to provide a sudden boost of energy or initiation to something.
To give a sudden, powerful, and often needed beginning or restart to a process, project, or situation that is stalled, inactive, or failing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term originates from automotive mechanics but is now more common in metaphorical use. It implies an external intervention is required to overcome inertia or a lack of internal power. It often carries a positive connotation of providing necessary help.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The hyphenated form 'jump-start' is standard in both, though the verb is sometimes seen as 'jumpstart' in US informal writing. The process/action is also called a 'jump' in very casual US speech ("I need a jump").
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in metaphorical business/economic contexts (e.g., 'jump-start the economy').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] jump-starts [Object] (e.g., He jump-started the car).[Subject] jump-starts [Object] with [Instrument] (e.g., She jump-started the initiative with a large grant).[Subject] needs/gives/gets a jump-start (e.g., The team needs a jump-start).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A kick in the pants (figurative, similar motivational sense)”
- “A shot in the arm (figurative, similar revitalising sense)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Commonly used to describe initiatives to rapidly stimulate economic activity, sales, or a lagging project (e.g., 'The new marketing campaign should jump-start our Q4 revenues').
Academic
Rare in formal academic prose; may appear in economics, management, or social sciences discussing policy impacts.
Everyday
Frequently used for literal car trouble and metaphorically for personal energy or motivation (e.g., 'I need a coffee to jump-start my brain').
Technical
The primary, literal meaning in automotive repair manuals and discussions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Can you help me jump-start my Fiat? The battery's flat.
- The government announced a new scheme to jump-start investment in green technology.
- A brisk walk can jump-start your metabolism in the morning.
American English
- I had to use cables to jump-start my Jeep in the parking lot.
- The coach called a timeout to jump-start the team's offense.
- We need a strong opening to jump-start the conference.
adverb
British English
- This is not used as an adverb.
American English
- This is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- They used a jump-start pack to get the van going.
- The economy is in need of jump-start measures.
American English
- He always carries a jump-start battery in his trunk.
- The company's jump-start program for new hires is very effective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My car won't start. I need a jump-start.
- He used cables to jump-start the old truck.
- The good news really jump-started our team meeting.
- If the battery is dead, you might have to jump-start it from another car.
- The prime minister proposed tax cuts to jump-start the sluggish economy.
- A chance encounter jump-started her career in journalism.
- The breakthrough discovery jump-started a whole new field of medical research, leading to rapid developments over the subsequent decade.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person literally JUMPing onto a START button to get a stalled machine going. The action is sudden, forceful, and gets things moving from a standstill.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROJECT/ECONOMY/ PROCESS IS A VEHICLE. LACK OF PROGRESS IS A DEAD BATTERY. EXTERNAL HELP IS A JUMP-START.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'прыгать-стартовать'. The correct equivalent for the literal action is 'завести (машину) с толкача' or 'прикурить (аккумулятор)'. Figuratively, use 'дать толчок', 'оживить', 'запустить'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'jump-start' with 'jump the gun' (to start too early).
- Using it for a gradual beginning (it implies a sudden, forceful initiation).
- Misspelling as one word 'jumpstart' in formal writing (though accepted).
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is 'jump-start' used LEAST appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard form, especially in formal writing, is hyphenated: 'jump-start'. The one-word form 'jumpstart' is common, especially in American English, but the hyphenated version is preferred in dictionaries and most edited prose.
They are largely synonymous, especially in figurative use. 'Jump-start' originates from automotive electronics (using jumper cables), while 'kick-start' comes from motorcycles (using a kick lever). In practice, they are interchangeable, though 'jump-start' is the only correct term for the literal car battery scenario.
Yes. You can 'give something a jump-start' or 'need a jump-start'. For example: 'The project got a much-needed jump-start from the new funding.'
While commonly said, it's slightly imprecise. Technically, you jump-start the vehicle's electrical system (the battery) to enable the engine to start. More precise phrasing is 'jump-start the car' or 'jump-start the battery'. However, 'jump-start the engine' is widely understood and accepted in everyday language.