[jump the traces] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES.

[jump the track]{v. phr.} 1. To go off rails; go or run the wrong way.•/The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident./ •/Thepulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother’s washing fell down./2. {informal} To change from one thought or idea to another without plan orreason; change the thought or idea you are talking about to somethingdifferent. •/Bob didn’t finish his algebra homework because his mind keptjumping the track to think about the new girl in class./ Compare: OFF THETRACK.

[jump through a hoop]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do whatever you aretold to do; obey any order. •/Bob would jump through a hoop for Mary./Compare: TWIST AROUND ONE’S LITTLE FINGER, UNDER ONE’S THUMB.

[jump to a conclusion]{v. phr.} To decide too quickly or withoutthinking or finding the facts. •/Jerry saw his dog limping on a bloody legand jumped to the conclusion that it had been shot./ Contrast: LOOK BEFOREYOU LEAP.

[junked up]{adj.} or {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} Tobe under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. •/You can’t talk toBilly, he’s all junked up./

[just about]{adv.}, {informal} Nearly; almost; practically.•/Just about everyone in town came to hear the mayor speak./ •/The dresscame down to just about the middle of her knee./ •/Has Mary finishedpeeling the potatoes? Just about./

[just for the fun of it]{adv. phr.} Merely as a matter of amusement.•/"I’ll bring a goat to class," Bob said to his classmates, "just for the funof it; I want to see what kind of a face Professor Brown will make."/

[just for the hell of it] See: JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.

[justice] See: DO JUSTICE TO.

[just in case]{adv. phr.} For an emergency; in order to be protected.•/"Here are my house keys. Sue," Tom said. "I’ll be back in two weeks, butyou should have them, just in case…"/ See: IN CASE.

[just in time] See: IN TIME.

[just now]{adv. phr.} 1. Just at this moment; at this time. •/Mr.Johnson isn’t here just now. Will you phone back later? 2./ {informal} Avery short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while ago. •/"Wherecould that boy have gone so quickly? He was here just now!"/ Compare: WHILEAGO.

[just so(1)]{adj.} Exact; exactly right. •/Mrs. Robinson likes tokeep her house just so, and she makes the children take off their shoes whenthey come in the house./

[just so(2)]{conj.} Provided; if. •/Take as much food as you want,just so you don’t waste any food./ Syn.: AS LONG AS(2).

[just so(3)]{adv. phr.} With great care; very carefully. •/In orderto raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so./

[just the other way] or [the other way around] {adv. phr.} Just theopposite. •/One would have thought that Goliath would defeat David, but itwas the other way around./

[just the same] See: ALL THE SAME.

[just what the doctor ordered]{n. phr.}, {informal} Exactly whatis needed or wanted. •/"Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!" exclaimed Joe whenMary brought him a cold soda./

K

[kangaroo court]{n.} A self-appointed group that decides what to do tosomeone who is supposed to have done wrong. •/The Chicago mob held a kangaroocourt and shot the gangster who competed with Al Capone./

[keel] See: ON AN EVEN KEEL.

[keel over]{v.} 1. To turn upside down; tip over; overturn. — Usuallyrefers to a boat. •/The strong wind made the sailboat keel over and thepassengers fell into the water./ 2. {informal} To fall over in a faint;taint. •/It was so hot during the assembly program that two girls who werestanding on the stage keeled over./ •/When the principal told the girl herfather died, she keeled right over./

[keen about] or [on] {adj. phr.} Very enthusiastic about someone orsomething. •/It is well known that Queen Elizabeth is keen on horses./

[keep abreast (of) someone] or [something] {v. phr.} To be informedof the latest developments. •/It is difficult to keep abreast of all thevarious wars that are being waged on planet Earth./ Compare: KEEP STEP WITH.

[keep a civil tongue in one’s head]{v. phr.} To be polite in speaking.•/He was very angry with his boss, but he kept a civil tongue in his head./•/The bus driver began yelling at the woman and she told him to keep a civiltongue in his head./

[keep a close check on] See: KEEP TAB(S) ON.

[keep after]{v.}, {informal} To speak to (someone) about somethingagain and again; remind over and over again. •/Some pupils will do sloppywork unless the teacher keeps after them to write neatly./ •/Sue’s motherhad to keep after her to clean her bedroom./

[keep an ear to the ground] See: EAR TO THE GROUND.

[keep an eye on] or [keep one’s eye on] or [have one’s eye on]{v. phr.} 1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to. •/Keep aneye on the stove in case the coffee boils./ •/You must keep your eye on theball when you play tennis./ •/A good driver keeps his eye on the road./•/The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I was cheating./•/Billy keeps a jealous eye on his toys./ •/The lion tamer keeps a sharpeye on the lions when he is in the cage./ Compare: LOOK OUT, LOOK OVER. 2. Towatch and do what is needed for; mind. •/Mother told Jane to keep an eye onthe baby while she was in the store./ •/Mr. Brown told John to keep an eyeon the store while he was out./ Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1).

[keep an eye open] or [keep an eye out for] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.

[keep an eye out] See: EYE OUT.

[keep a stiff upper lip]{v. phr.} To be brave; face trouble bravely.•/He was very much worried about his sick daughter, but he kept a stiff upperlip./ •/Although he was having some trouble with the engine, the pilot kepta stiff upper lip and landed the plane safely./ Compare: KEEP ONE’S CHIN UP.

[keep a straight face] See: STRAIGHT FACE, DEADPAN.

[keep at]{v.} To continue to do; go on with. •/Mary kept at herhomework until she finished it./ Compare: KEEP ON(1), KEEP UP(1b).

[keep away]{v. phr.} To remain at a distance from. •/Her motheradvised Diane to keep away from men offering a ride./

[keep back]{v. phr.} To refrain or be restrained from entering; remainback. •/The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when the astronautscame to town after walking on the moon./

[keep body and soul together]{v. phr.} To keep alive; survive.•/John was unemployed most of the year and hardly made enough money to keepbody and soul together./ Compare: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.

[keep books]{v. phr.} To keep records of money gained and spent; dothe work of a bookkeeper. •/Miss Jones keeps the company’s books./

[keep company]{v. phr.} 1. To stay or go along with (someone) so thathe will not be lonely to visit with (someone). •/John kept Andy company whilehis parents went to the movies./ •/I’ll go shopping with you just to keepyou company./ 2. To go places together as a couple; date just one person.•/After keeping company for one year, Mary and John decided to marry./•/Who is Bill keeping company with now?/ Compare: GO STEADY.