English

Verb

jive ‎(third-person singular simple present jives, present participle jiving, simple past and past participle jived)

1. (transitive, intransitive, US, colloquial) To deceive; to be deceptive.

   Don’t try to jive me! I know where you were last night!

2. (intransitive, colloquial) To dance.

   You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life; ooh, see that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the dancing queen! (ABBA, "Dancing Queen")

Translations

Noun

jive ‎(plural jives)

1. A dance style popular in the 1940–50s.
2. Swing, a style of jazz music.
3. A slang associated with jazz musicians; hepcat patois or hipster jargon.
4. (US, colloquial) Nonsense; transparently deceptive talk.

   Don’t give me that jive. I know where you were last night.

5. (US, colloquial, often pejorative) African American Vernacular English.

Translations

See also

• bullshit

Etymology 2

Verb

jive ‎(third-person singular simple present jives, present participle jiving, simple past and past participle jived)

1. (US) Alternative spelling of jibe

Usage notes

"Jive" and "jibe" have been used interchangeably in the U.S. to indicate the concept "to agree or accord." While one recent dictionary accepts this usage of "jive," most sources consider it to be in error.

See also jive turkey for related expression.