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View synonyms for jingo

jingo

[ jing-goh ]

noun

, plural jin·goes.
  1. a person who professes their patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.
  2. English History. a Conservative supporter of British Prime Minister Disraeli's policy in Turkey during the period 1877–78.


adjective

  1. of jingoes.
  2. characterized by jingoism.

jingo

/ ˈdʒɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

  1. a loud and bellicose patriot; chauvinist
  2. jingoism
  3. by jingo
    by jingo an exclamation of surprise


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Derived Forms

  • ˈjingoish, adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of jingo1

First recorded in 1660–70; originally conjurer's call hey jingo! “appear! come forth!” (opposed to hey presto! hasten away!), taken into general use in the phrase by Jingo, euphemism for by God; chauvinistic sense from by Jingo in political song supporting use of British forces against Russia in 1878

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Word History and Origins

Origin of jingo1

C17: originally perhaps a euphemism for Jesus; applied to bellicose patriots after the use of by Jingo! in the refrain of a 19th-century music-hall song

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. by jingo! Informal. (an exclamation used to emphasize the truth or importance of a foregoing statement, or to express astonishment, approval, etc.):

    I know you can do it, by jingo!

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Example Sentences

There's the coach, by Jingo, three bays and a grey—no chance of the box—is this a hat?

By the Living Jingo, sir, that was a lucky thought of yours to order us to board this ship first!

Motteux, in his “Rabelais,” is the first to use “by jingo,” translating par dieu.

Without being an offensive and blatant Jingo, I think he is content to be an American.

In fact, Long Cecil had accentuated what is known in vulgar parlance as the Jingo spirit.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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