Jerry Rigged vs Jury Rigged
What’s the difference between them?
Jerry Rigged
Meaning:
Colloquial. To jury-rig or make a makeshift, often temporary, repair or improvement with whatever materials are available.
Examples:
1. Dad jerry rigged a pulley system to help us move boxes up to the attic.
2. He jerry rigged the door so it would stay shut.
3. We had to jerry rig the speakers so they could play music outside.
Jury Rigged
Meaning:
Jury rigged means to temporarily or hastily repair or modify something with available materials or parts.
Examples:
1.I jury-rigged the old engine to get it running.
2.The jury-rigged antenna could only pick up one channel.
3.It was an impressive job for something that was jury-rigged.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Jerry Rigged
1. Jury-rigged
2. Macgyvered
3. Cobbled together
4. Put together with makeshift materials
5. Constructed in a makeshift manner
1. Meticulously Engineered
2. Professionally Constructed
3. Carefully Assembled
4. Systematically Designed
5. Expertly Installed
Jury Rigged
1. MacGyvered
2. Ingeniously Constructed
3. Improvised
4. Cobbled Together
5. Held Together with Elastics
1. Professionally built
2. Robustly constructed
3. Well engineered
4. Carefully crafted
5. Purpose designed
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Jerry Rigged", "Jury Rigged".
1. 'Jury Rigged' originates from nautical terminology, where 'jury' means 'temporary' and relates to makeshift repairs made at sea with materials on hand. Think of it as a 'temporary rigging' on a ship.
2. 'Jerry Rigged' is a misinterpretation or mispronunciation of 'jury-rigged.' The term 'Jerry' has been used as slang in various contexts, but when it comes to making quick fixes, the original term is 'jury-rigged.'
3. Remember that the authentic term uses the letter 'u' as in 'jury.' Think of 'u' for 'unplanned' or 'unexpected,' emphasizing the makeshift and temporary nature of the repair.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When should 'jerry-rigged' be used?
Jerry-rigged should be used to describe a makeshift, often temporary, repair or improvement made with whatever materials are available. It can be used informally in conversation to describe something that has been hastily put together.
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'jury-rigged'?
Jury-rigged should be used to describe something that has been hastily repaired or modified with available materials or parts, either temporarily or permanently. It is typically used to describe an improvised or makeshift solution to a problem.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
The two words do not share the same pronunciation, although they are sometimes confused. Jerry-rigged is pronounced with a short 'e' sound, while jury-rigged is pronounced with a long 'u' sound.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One common mistake people make when using these words is confusing the two terms. They both refer to makeshift repairs, but one has a longer 'u' sound in it, while the other has a shorter 'e' sound. Additionally, some people mistakenly use the word 'jerry-rigged' when they mean 'jury-rigged'. It's important to understand the distinction between the two terms in order to use them correctly.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. My car was broken so I had to ________ it with some duct tape and a piece of string.
2. The team had to ________ a solution to the problem with limited resources.
3. Im sorry for the inconvenience, but we had to ________ the system until the new parts arrived.
4. We ________ our tent when the windstorm started blowing.
5. The bridge had to be ________ to make it safe to cross.
6. We had to ________ a solution to the problem in a matter of minutes.
Answer 1: Jury Rigged.
Explanation: Jury Rigged is an idiom meaning to assemble or construct something quickly and often in an improvised or makeshift manner. As the car had been broken, the speaker had to use limited resources to make an improvised repair, making this the correct answer.
Answer 2: Jury Rigged.
Explanation: Jury Rigged is an idiom meaning to assemble or construct something quickly and often in an improvised or makeshift manner. In this case, the team had to use limited resources to construct a solution to the problem, making this the correct answer.
Answer 3: Jerry Rigged.
Explanation: Jerry Rigged is an idiom meaning to make an inadequate, temporary, or improvised repair. In this case, the speaker had to make a temporary repair to the system until the new parts arrived, making this the correct answer.
Answer 4: Jury Rigged.
Explanation: Jury Rigged is an idiom meaning to assemble or construct something quickly and often in an improvised or makeshift manner. As the speaker had to assemble something quickly due to a storm, this is the correct answer.
Answer 5: Jerry Rigged.
Explanation: Jerry Rigged is an idiom meaning to make an inadequate, temporary, or improvised repair. In this case, the bridge had to be temporarily repaired to make it safe to cross, making this the correct answer.
Answer 6: Jury Rigged.
Explanation: Jury Rigged is an idiom meaning to assemble or construct something quickly and often in an improvised or makeshift manner. As the speaker had to construct a solution in a matter of minutes, this is the correct answer.
Get a gift by subscribing to our newsletter!
Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.