It don't mean jack

Posted by ESC on December 19, 2008 at 22:35

In Reply to: It don't mean jack posted by Deniz Kayaman on December 19, 2008 at 15:10:

: I wonder what does "it don't mean jack" means? There are a lot of phrases with "jack" word, Is there any specific meaning of jack?

You're right. In one of my references, there are pages and pages of phrases with jack. And there are dozens of meanings of the word jack. For example, jack meaning a very small amount (16th century) and a farthing (17 to 18th century) and money (U.S., late 19th century). In the 20th century jack came to mean "nothing." "Jacksh*t" means worthless, useless, negligible (1990s). Various meanings for jack are: a man, the anus, horseflesh, hidden notes (cheat-sheets), a country man or rustic, syphilis, a fool, a native soldier. And on and on. Cassell's Dictionary of Slang by Jonathon Green (Wellington House, London, 1998). Page 647-651.

• It don't mean jack ESC 19/December/08
  • It don't mean jack Smokey Stover 20/December/08
    • It don't mean jack Victoria S Dennis 20/December/08
      • It don't mean jack Smokey Stover 20/December/08
        • It don't mean jack Victoria S Dennis 20/December/08