jitterbug
/ˈdʒɪtəbʌɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒɪtərbʌɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈji-tər-ˌbəg/ (ame, mw)
jitterbug — noun
- jitterbugsingular
- jitterbugsplural
1. a lively American partner-dance style associated with the World War II era, perf
a lively American partner-dance style associated with the World War II era, performed to fast swing music and known for quick footwork, spins, and athletic lifts.
Owen's grandmother still remembers dancing the jitterbug at army base parties during the war.
collocation: dance the jitterbug
The film festival showed old footage of couples doing the jitterbug in a smoky Chicago ballroom.
collocation: do the jitterbug
Meera signed up for a swing class because she wanted to learn the jitterbug before her wedding.
The jitterbug became hugely popular among young Americans in the late 1930s and 1940s.
Tamar's swing teacher said the jitterbug looks wild but every spin and lift is carefully practised.
文法句型
dance the jitterbug
do the jitterbug
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by the definite article 'the' when naming the dance form itself ('dance the jitterbug', 'learn the jitterbug'). Strongly tied to a 1940s historical context; modern uses are usually nostalgic or about swing-revival communities.
常見錯誤
jitterbug — verb
- jitterbugpresent simple I / you / we / they
- jitterbugs3rd person singular
- jitterbuging-ing form
- jitterbugedpast simple
1. to perform the lively 1940s American partner dance, usually to fast swing or jaz
to perform the lively 1940s American partner dance, usually to fast swing or jazz music.
Cyrus and his wife jitterbugged across the wooden floor while the band played a Glenn Miller tune.
intransitive with adverbial phrase
Imani learned to jitterbug from her great-aunt, who had won prizes at dance halls in the 1940s.
infinitive: learn to jitterbug
Couples jitterbugged late into the night at the old Brooklyn ballroom on Saturdays.
Jenna's parents jitterbugged at their fiftieth wedding anniversary, exactly as they had on their first date.
- swing
broader verb covering many 1930s-40s partner dances; 'they swung to the band' is more general than 'they jitterbugged'
文法句型
jitterbug to [music]
jitterbug with [partner]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively in historical or swing-revival contexts. Pattern is intransitive — the verb takes no object; movement or partner phrases come as prepositional adverbials ('jitterbug to the music', 'jitterbug with her husband').