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like Jehu

like Jehu

9.9
In a wild, fast way with little control
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : como un loco
  • The children ran like Jehu across the playground, laughing and shouting with excitement.

Examples

  • When the doors opened, shoppers rushed in like Jehu to grab the best deals.

  • They danced like Jehu at the party!

  • After hearing his favorite song, Tom started dancing like Jehu in the middle of the room.

  • The kids ran around like Jehu in the playground.

  • The children danced like Jehu, spinning and twirling with wild abandon.

  • He acted like Jehu during the party, running around and laughing at everything.

  • The fans cheered like Jehu as the band took the stage, filled with excitement.

Synonyms

like the devil
vslike Jehu
  • Informal
8 8.2

Very quickly and with great energy

is wilder and suggests reckless frenzy rather than speed only
energetically
vslike Jehu
8 3.0

In a lively and eager way

is more reckless and wild rather than simply energetic
like a demon
vslike Jehu
4 7.4

To do something with great energy and effort

is more uncontrolled and often more violent in action
dynamically
vslike Jehu
2 4.6

In a lively and energetic way

is less structured and more chaotic, bordering on reckless
frenetically
vslike Jehu
1 7.0

Very quickly and in a worried or excited way

is wilder and more reckless rather than just hurried
exuberantly
vslike Jehu
1 5.1

In a lively, excited way

is wilder and less controlled, often with reckless force
like a man possessed
vslike Jehu
  • Informal
1 7.6

Act with very strong, urgent energy and full focus

is wilder and more frenzied, not just irresistibly driven
frenziedly
vslike Jehu
7.5

In a wild, panicked way

is similar but adds a sense of reckless lack of control
to dance like a demon
vslike Jehu
  • Informal
7.7

To move your body with wild, strong energy and little control

is similar but emphasizes recklessness beyond dancing

Antonyms

978 1.0

In a way that shows attention and caution to avoid mistakes or harm

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

How Energetic

like Jehu
  • Archaic
9.9
vigorously
76 3.4
briskly
24 3.5

Surface Forms

like Jehu positive

Morphology

like + Jehu

The comparator 'like' is transparent, but 'Jehu' is a culturally specific proper name whose meaning (a furious or reckless driver from a biblical story) is not lexicalized for most learners. Because the overall sense depends on background knowledge rather than compositional meaning of the parts, a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably derive the idiomatic sense.

Etymology

The phrase like Jehu comes from the Bible, where Jehu was famous for driving his chariot wildly and very fast. That's why like Jehu is used to say someone acts 'with great energy' or 'recklessly'.