Jive Names a Dance, a Talk and a Deception
Jive is a lively dance and a style of slang. The word also means nonsense or deceptive talk.
Jive is a fast dance associated with swing music, and also slang meaning deceptive or worthless talk. The word is African American English, recorded from the 1920s, and its senses developed together — jive talk was the in-group slang of jazz musicians, and calling something jive meant it was empty patter. *Jive* is often confused with *jibe*, meaning to agree, as in the phrase *that does not jibe with the facts*, which is the standard form.
- A swing dance. *Dancing the jive.*
- Slang talk. *Jive talk.*
- Nonsense. *Do not give me that jive.*
- Jibe — to agree. *It does not jibe.*
- American — from the 1920s. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | jive | Jive. |
| Verb | jive | Jiving. |
| Adjective | jivey | Jivey. |
| Confused with | jibe | To jibe. |
| Recorded | 1920s | American. |
- They danced the jive.Dance.
- That is pure jive.Nonsense.
- The facts do not jibe.Different word.
Jive, jibe and gybe
- Jive — the dance, and empty talk
- Jibe — to be consistent with
- Jibe also means a taunt, a separate sense
- Gybe — a sailing manoeuvre turning the stern through the wind
- Three spellings, at least four meanings
African American English, recorded from the 1920s, of uncertain origin.
Is it jive with the facts or jibe with the facts?
Jibe is the standard form for agreeing or being consistent. Jive means the dance or empty talk.
What was jive talk?
The in-group slang of jazz musicians and their audiences, which contributed heavily to later American informal English.