1 B2 idiomatic informal
To treat someone unfairly by wasting their time, changing plans, or not being honest.
"The company jerked us around for weeks before giving a final answer."
separable
jerk around
B2 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To treat someone badly by wasting their time, confusing them, or not being sincere.
In plain English
play unfair games with someone
What does "jerk around" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To behave foolishly or waste time instead of doing something useful.
"We can't keep jerking around if we want to finish before dark."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pull someone in sudden rough movements.
Actually means
play unfair games with someone
Usage tip
Common in North American informal speech. Often used in the passive: 'I was jerked around.'
Words that pair with "jerk around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
customers employees people all day by the boss
How to conjugate "jerk around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
jerk around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
jerks around
he/she/it
Past simple
jerked around
yesterday
Past participle
jerked around
have + pp
-ing form
jerking around
continuous
Hear "jerk around" in the wild
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