Jerry Built

Pronunciation: /ˈdʒɛri bɪlt/

Definitions of jerry built

adjective poorly or hastily constructed; flimsy or shoddy in construction

Example Sentences

A1 The jerry built house collapsed in the storm.

A2 The jerry built furniture fell apart after only a few months of use.

B1 The jerry built bridge was deemed unsafe for heavy vehicles.

B2 The jerry built website had numerous glitches and errors.

C1 The jerry built skyscraper was criticized for its poor construction quality.

C2 The jerry built car failed to meet safety standards and was recalled by the manufacturer.

Examples of jerry built in a Sentence

formal The contractor was criticized for constructing a jerry-built structure that did not meet safety standards.

informal My uncle's shed is so jerry-built, I'm surprised it hasn't fallen down yet.

slang That car looks so jerry-built, I wouldn't trust it to make it across town.

figurative Her argument was jerry-built, with weak evidence and flawed reasoning.

Grammatical Forms of jerry built

• past tense: jerry built
• plural: jerry builts
• comparative: more jerry built
• superlative: most jerry built
• present tense: jerry builds
• future tense: will jerry build
• perfect tense: has jerry built
• continuous tense: is jerry building
• singular: jerry built
• positive degree: jerry built
• infinitive: to jerry build
• gerund: jerry building
• participle: jerry built

Origin and Evolution of jerry built

First Known Use: 1869 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'jerry built' originated in Britain and was used to describe poorly constructed or shoddily made buildings that were put together quickly and cheaply.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'jerry built' has come to be used more broadly to describe anything that is poorly constructed or of low quality, not just buildings.