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to jack up the volume

to jack up the volume

4.8
Turn a control to make music louder
  • phrasal verb
  • /dʒæk ʌp ðə ˈvɑːljum/
  • Informal
translation icon : subir el volumen
  • If you jack up the volume on your headphones, be careful not to damage your hearing.

Examples

  • Could you jack up the volume? I can barely hear the music.

  • The DJ decided to jack up the volume as the crowd got more energetic.

  • Can you jack up the volume?

  • Please jack up the volume a little!

  • She decided to jack up the volume on her speakers to hear the music better.

  • As the party became more lively, he thought it was time to jack up the volume to get everyone dancing.

  • During the concert, the technician had to jack up the volume to ensure everyone could enjoy the performance.

Synonyms

to ramp up
vsto jack up the volume
47 4.1

To increase something, especially its amount or speed

is about quick manual control changes for loudness rather than gradual scaling
to crank up
vsto jack up the volume
  • Informal
39 3.8

To increase the level or strength of something, for example volume, production

is specifically about adjusting a control to increase loudness
to bump up
vsto jack up the volume
23 3.4

To raise prices or amounts by a lot

is specifically about changing loudness via a control
to amplify
vsto jack up the volume
  • Specialized
23 3.7

To make a sound or electronic signal louder using equipment

is about increasing loudness by adjusting a device control directly
to jack up
vsto jack up the volume
  • Informal
12 5.9

To raise prices or rent suddenly by a lot

is about gradual or simple control adjustments for loudness
to turn up the volume
vsto jack up the volume
10 2.0

Make the sound from a radio, TV, or speaker louder

is specifically done by turning a control to increase loudness
to crank up the volume
vsto jack up the volume
  • Informal
1 3.4

Make the sound louder on a radio, music player, or TV

is about raising loudness specifically by adjusting a control
to bump up the volume
vsto jack up the volume
3.4

Make the sound louder by turning the volume control

focuses on doing that by adjusting a control rather than broad increases
to volumize
vsto jack up the volume
  • Specialized
5.8

To make recorded sound louder

focuses on live control adjustments, not studio processing
to louden
vsto jack up the volume
7.5

To become louder or make a sound louder

specifies using a device control to make sound louder

Antonyms

191 2.7

Make the sound or heat from something lower, for example music

How Loud

to jack up the volume
  • Informal
4.8
to crank up the volume
  • Informal
1 3.4

Surface Forms

jack up the volume infinitive
jacked up the volume past participle
jacking up the volume present participle
jacks up the volume third person singular

Morphology

jack + up + the + volume

The meaning 'to increase loudness' is directly derivable from combining 'jack' (to raise), 'up' (increase/intensify), and 'volume' (loudness). Although 'jack' is originally physical lifting, the metaphorical extension to raising levels is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Jack up the volume comes from the tool jack that people use to lift a car. To jack up something means to raise it, so jack up the volume paints a picture of lifting the sound and means 'turn the sound up'.