jolly

Word family

jol·ly1 /ˈdʒɒli $ ˈdʒɑːli/ adjectiveadj especially British EnglishBrE

1 HAPPYhappy and enjoying yourself 兴高采烈的，开心愉快的

Everybody was in a very relaxed and jolly mood.

大家的心情都非常轻松愉快。

2 old-fashionedNICE very pleasant and enjoyable 令人愉快的

We had a jolly time with the family.

我们和家人在一起过得很愉快。

Examples from the Corpus

jolly• Why had he turned so jolly all of a sudden?• Sue was always jolly and helpful.• The innovation stirred the ashram to mirth and jolly comment.• And we did have some jolly evenings.• They all made a jolly family.• Peter Webster, forty-seven, is a jaunty, jolly fellow.• But a nice young man who wanted a bit of chivvying from a jolly girl-friend.• My uncle was a jolly man with a loud laugh.• a very jolly occasion• Arthur was their best man and there were jolly pictures of the wedding in the papers.• a jolly Santa Claus• After Anaximenes came some one jolly, scoffing, and yet profound: the philosopher-poet Xenopha-nes.

jolly2 adverbadv British EnglishBrE old-fashioned informal

1 VERYvery 很，非常

Sounds like a jolly good idea to me.

我觉得这是个好主意。

It was all jolly good fun.

这个很好玩。

2 jolly well old-fashioned informal EMPHASIZEANNOYused to emphasize an opinion or to show that you are annoyed 当然，无疑〔用于强调某个观点或表示生气〕

Right, I’m going to clear up, and you can jolly well help me.

没错，我要打扫了，而你也当然可以帮我忙啊。

Examples from the Corpus

jolly well• And charge they jolly well did.• He had a mountain to climb and he was jolly well going to reach the top or die in the attempt.• He claimed he hadn't any but he jolly well had!• And if he hasn't changed his sheets by now, he jolly well ought to have done.• I mean, would you jolly well put money into this place?• But the horse is used to being brushed, or he jolly well should be!

3. jolly good! spokenHAPPY used to say that you are pleased by what someone has just said 说得好！〔用来表示你对某人刚刚所说的话感到满意〕

Examples from the Corpus

jolly• I think bathing is jolly good f-fun.• Whatever, he did a jolly good job.• And if you have what it takes and can stand the pace, a jolly good salary.• It sounds to me as if you all need a jolly good thrashing.• The canteen was jolly good value.• For he's a jolly good Weller Duh!

jolly good fun• I know it all sounds like jolly good fun, but at thirty-five a man ought to have some sort of career.

jolly3 verb (jollied, jollying, jollies) British EnglishBrE

1 jolly somebody along phrasal verbphr v HELPto try to make someone do something faster by encouraging them 鼓励某人〔加快速度做某事〕

He jollied people along and got useful information out of them.

他鼓励人们说出来，从而获得了有用的信息。

Examples from the Corpus

jolly along• Where Ken wanted to jolly the world along, Bernard wanted to push it and shove it for its own good.

2 jolly somebody into something phrasal verbphr v informal PERSUADEto gently persuade someone to do something 哄某人做某事

She jollied the children into going for a walk.

她哄孩子们去散步。

Examples from the Corpus

jolly into • She tried to jolly herself into enthusiasm.

3.jolly something ↔ up phrasal verbphr v DECORATEto make an event or place more pleasant or exciting 使更快活；使更有生气

Examples from the Corpus

jolly• She tried to jolly herself into enthusiasm.• Attempting to jolly him, I told him I suspected the Soviets.• Brisk neon routines jolly the cityscape, like the desk-toys of businessmen.• Where Ken wanted to jolly the world along, Bernard wanted to push it and shove it for its own good.

Origin jolly1

(1200-1300) Old French joli “happy, pretty”