Meaning & use
jack off
Last updated
Meanings
verbphrasal verbvulgarslang
A crude slang way of saying to masturbate.
Grammar: Has no object: he jacked off.
Patterns
- jack off
The word jack off is vulgar and is never used in polite conversation.
Dictionaries label jack off as crude slang for masturbation.
A film rating may mention the use of the phrase jack off as strong language.
verbphrasal verbvulgarslangAmerican
In American slang, to waste time doing nothing useful.
Grammar: Often heard in rude, angry speech.
Patterns
- stop jacking off
The foreman yelled at the crew to stop jacking off and get back to work.
Quit jacking off and finish the report.
Word forms
| third person singular | jacks off |
|---|---|
| past tense | jacked off |
| past participle | jacked off |
| -ing form | jacking off |
Common combinations
- jack off at work
- The boss told them not to jack off at work, meaning to waste time.
- stop jacking off
- Stop jacking off, we have a deadline.
- told to jack off
- Being told to jack off is considered a harsh insult.
- jacked off all day
- He complained that his teammates jacked off all day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- masturbate
- Masturbate is the neutral, medical word, while jack off is crude slang.
- goof off
- Goof off is a mild, informal way to waste time and is not vulgar.
- slack off
- Slack off means to work less hard and is polite enough for most settings.
Word family
Commonly confused: jack off or jack up?
jack off vs jack up
Jack up means to raise something, such as a car or a price, and has no vulgar meaning.
Practice
Which phrase is a polite, neutral alternative to a vulgar term for wasting time at work?
Choose one answer.
Slack off means to work less hard and is acceptable in most settings. Jack off is vulgar, and knock off means to stop working or to copy something.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jack off”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.