Sunday, March 25, 2007

Jumpin' Jive

now, just what the hell is going on here?
over the past few months i've been witnessing the word "jive" used in countless web blogs, political commentaries, quotes from politicians and even in newspapers to describe situations where a person's actions don't conform to a person's words or stance on something.

example: bush's claim to be a uniter doesn't jive with any single thing he's done since he came into power.

when , in fact, the word to be used is "jibe". jibe originally was a term used at sea. it was a nautical term.

example: To turn a boat to take the wind on the other side, with the stern going through the wind. Unless the jibe is controlled, the boom will bang over and the sudden change of forces can cause momentary loss of control.

it, also, is a word used to describe consistency (or lack thereof).

example: agree with, as in: His alibi doesn't jibe with the testimony of eye-witnesses.

jive is slang for describing swing blues music. it is, also, used as a dismissive term when one person thinks another is handing him a bunch of bullshit.

example: BB King sings "My momma says she loves me, but she could be jivin' too".

only the urban dictionary has crossed the word "jive" over into sharing the same meaning as "jibe". and it's the fifth definition on the list.

but i guess it's the buzzword du jour and no one has the time to look into its etymology. we all know that politicians don't. and we all know that most political columnists won't.

think before you use the word. because jive don't jibe with jibe, it's just jive.

8 comments:

ScarySquirrelMan said...

it worked, didn't it?

Katie :) said...

jivin, jibin, whatever works for you.
It's more of a "potato, potato, tomato, tomato" kinda deal!

airplanejayne said...

jiving and jibing....

hmmm..

kinda sounds like the nucular/nuclear thing...

ScarySquirrelMan said...

nuculer isn't even a word. it's merely a dimwitted and lazy mispronounciation. jive and jibe are two very real words with very different meanings.

Katie :) said...

that's not what the urban dictionary says.....

:P ;)

ScarySquirrelMan said...

the urban dictionary can likizzle my penizzle.

Katie :) said...

I don't think "penizzle" is in the urban dictionary.......

Generik said...

"Jump, jivin' whale!"