jitterbug
jitterbug
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling
/ˈdʒɪtərbʌɡ/
Syllable Breakdown
jit- /dʒɪt/ - The sound starts with the voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/, followed by the short vowel /ɪ/, and ends with the alveolar stop /t/.
-ter- /ər/ - This is a vocalic 'r' sound, a schwa followed by the rhotic approximant.
-bug /bʌɡ/ - The sound begins with the voiced bilabial stop /b/, followed by the short vowel /ʌ/, and ends with the voiced velar stop /ɡ/.
Word Form Variations
Noun: jitterbug (singular), jitterbugs (plural)
Verb: jitterbug (base form), jitterbugs (third-person singular present), jitterbugging (present participle), jitterbugged (past tense, past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A person who dances the jitterbug, a fast and acrobatic swing dance popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
Synonyms: swing dancer, Lindy Hopper
Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it describes a specific type of dancer)
Definition 2: The energetic and athletic dance style itself, characterized by lifts, spins, and synchronized footwork.
Synonyms: swing dance, Lindy Hop
Antonyms: waltz, tango, foxtrot (these are different styles of dance, not direct antonyms)
Verb
Definition 1: To perform the dance known as the jitterbug.
Example: "They jitterbugged all night long at the jazz club."
Synonyms: swing dance, Lindy Hop
Antonyms: (None directly applicable, as it describes a specific action)
Examples of Use
Books
In Haruki Murakami's novel Kafka on the Shore, the character Oshima says, "I used to be a jitterbug back in the day, but now my knees can't take it."
Newspapers and Online Publications
A New York Times article from May 2024 described a resurgence of interest in vintage dance styles, noting, "At the swing dance convention, older jitterbugs shared their knowledge with a new generation of enthusiasts."
A blog post on a local history website in April 2023 recounted, "The old-timers still talk about the Saturday nights at the community hall, where couples would jitterbug until dawn."
Entertainment
The 1950 song "Jukebox Jitterbug" by Betty Hutton is a classic example of the term's use in music.
In the film Swing Kids, a group of teenagers secretly meets to jitterbug to forbidden music during World War II.
Public Discourse
During a radio interview in March 2024, a dance historian remarked, "The energy of the jitterbug was infectious; it was a form of rebellion and freedom for young people during a time of great change."
In a social media post, a user wrote, "Saw a couple jitterbugging in the park today. Made my day!"
10 Famous Quotes Using Jitterbug
“Philosophers have argued for centuries about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but materialists have known all along that it depends on whether they are jitterbugging or dancing cheek to cheek.” (Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume)
"There are those who barter it for security, those who repress it for what they believe is the betterment of the whole society, but blessed in the twinkle of the morning star is the one who nurtures it and rides it in, in grace and love and wit, from peculiar station to peculiar station along life's bittersweet route." (Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume)
“I've sent a little insect on ahead to take the fight out of them." (The Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, referencing the Jitterbug, an unreleased song from the film)
“The game is played only after the mugs and wenches have taken on too much gin and they arrive at the state of jitters, a disease known among the common herd as heebie jeebies.” (This quote contains the term "jitters" which leads to the popular use of the word jitterbug in the 1934 Cab Calloway song.)
“I can text in complete sentences... And, thanks to my mom being a competitive dancer as a teen, I know how to do the Lindy hop and the jitterbug.” (Kiera Cass, The Siren)
"He has the jitters ev'ry morn; that's why jitter sauce was born." (Cab Calloway, "Jitter Bug")
"I do not try to dance better than anybody else. I only try to dance better than myself." (Unknown, Jitterbug dancing has been attributed to this quote)
“The highest function of love is that it makes the loved one a unique and irreplaceable being.” (Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume)
"What a great jitterbug!" (This quote is a general expression of admiration for the dance, not attributed to any specific individual).
"That's how we did the jitterbug! A little more pep, a little more sass!" (This quote is a general expression of enthusiasm for the dance, not attributed to any specific individual).
Etymology
The word "jitterbug" is a combination of the words "jitter" and "bug." The term likely originated as slang in the 1920s to describe someone with the "jitters," a state of extreme nervousness or shakiness. This feeling was often associated with drinking too much alcohol, and the "bug" part of the word was a slang term for a person, similar to "dance bug" or "camera bug," meaning an enthusiast.
The word's meaning shifted and gained popularity in the 1930s with the rise of swing music and the energetic dance style that went along with it. Early on, "jitterbug" was sometimes used as a slightly insulting term by seasoned dancers to describe people who were new to the fast-paced swing dancing. They thought these new dancers were clumsy and "jittery," jumping around like "jittering bugs" without a lot of skill. However, the term quickly lost its negative meaning and became the general name for both the dance itself and the people who loved to do it.
A significant moment in the word's history was the release of Cab Calloway's 1934 song "Jitter Bug," which helped to popularize the term and solidify its association with the lively dance and swing music.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Jitterbug
To do the jitterbug: This is the most common phrase, simply meaning to perform the dance.
The jitterbug craze: Refers to the period of widespread popularity for the dance.
A jitterbug move: Describes a specific, often acrobatic, step or maneuver in the dance.
To have the jitterbug in one's feet: An original phrase suggesting someone is full of energy and eager to dance.
Full of jitterbug: An original idiom to describe a person who is exceptionally energetic or enthusiastic.
Jitterbugging all night long: A phrase to describe a period of continuous, energetic dancing.
The jitterbug generation: A phrase to refer to the young people of the 1930s and '40s who embraced the dance.
A jitterbug rhythm: Describes a fast, lively musical beat suitable for the dance.
The jitterbug spirit: An idiom representing a sense of carefree, youthful energy and spontaneity.
Jitterbug on the dance floor: A simple phrase used to describe the action of dancing the jitterbug.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of jitterbug from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
