jive turkey

English

Etymology

Coined in the 1970s, originally African-American.

Pronunciation

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Noun

jive turkey (plural jive turkeys)

1. (US, idiomatic, derogatory, dated slang) A fool, a chump, a target for jiving.
   • 1989, Lynda Barry, “String Heads”, in Ernie Pook's Comeek:

     [1970s school principal:] You girls better get with what's going down! I am not a jive turkey and this school is not a jive turkey! Any questions?

2. (US, idiomatic, dated slang) Someone who performs the jive dance, especially in an amusing or showy manner.
3. (US, idiomatic, dated slang) Someone who behaves in a glib and disingenuous fashion, a jiver.

Synonyms

• jive-ass, jiver, bullshitter