Sekirov Dictionary

jolly

UK /ˈd͡ʒɒli/US /ˈd͡ʒɑli/

adjective 3
noun 4
verb 2
adverb 1
forms 7
phrases 1

adjective3

•
happy, friendly and quick to laugh
- "Full jolly Knight he seemed […] full large of limb and every joint / He was, and cared not for God or man a point." — 1590
•
(informal, old-fashioned) Splendid, excellent, pleasant.
- Jo silently notices how white and small her hand is and what a jolly servant she must be to wear such sparkling rings. — 1852
(informal) Drunk.

noun4

•
(UK, humorous) A pleasure trip or excursion; especially, an expenses-paid or unnecessary one.
- If you know what it means to be a “fidlet” going for a “jolly” in your “doo”, then you are part of an exclusive club that speaks colloquial Antarctic English. — 2024
•
(slang, old-fashioned) A marine in the English navy.
- I'm a Jolly — 'Er Majesty's Jolly — soldier an' sailor too! — 1896
•
Ellipsis of jolly boat.
- Indeed it is nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could have escaped destruction for a single instant. — 1838
(slang, no longer used) A word of praise, or favorable notice.

verb2

To amuse or divert.
•
(informal, no longer used) To praise or talk up.
- I do not believe in 'jollying' and 'soft soaping' a man when his work is really bad. — 1898

adverb1

•
(UK, old-fashioned) Very, extremely.
- It’s jolly hot in here, isn’t it?

forms

jollied · jollying · jollies · jollier · more jolly · jolliest · most jolly

Phrases with jolly

jolly along
To keep (someone) happy or compliant, as by encouragement or flattery.

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