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Glite Dictionary
jerry-builder

jerry-builder

9.9
A person who makes cheap, badly made houses to make quick money
  • noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : constructor chapucero
  • No one wanted to buy a house built by a jerry-builder after the roof collapsed.

Examples

  • Complaints poured in about the safety hazards left behind by the notorious jerry-builder.

  • The jerry-builder cut corners to save money.

  • The crooked developer was known as a jerry-builder in the neighborhood.

  • Many jerry-builders are known for their shoddy work.

  • The community was outraged when it discovered that the new apartment complex was built by a jerry-builder who prioritized profit over safety.

  • Homebuyers were warned not to trust the jerry-builder who had a reputation for cutting costs to increase his profits.

  • After the local council inspected the site, they declared the construction a disaster due to the jerry-builder's negligence.

How Skilled

craftsman
39 2.8
jerry-builder
  • Offensive
9.9

Surface Forms

jerry-builder singular
jerry-builders plural

Morphology

jerry-builder = jerry + builder (semi-transparent) = jerry + build + er

The compound structure ('jerry' + 'builder') is clear, but the modifier 'jerry' meaning 'shoddy' may be unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Jerry-builder comes from the old phrase jerry-built, where jerry came to mean 'poorly made' and builder is someone who builds things, though the exact origin of jerry is not sure. So, a jerry-builder is a person who puts up cheap, unsafe buildings to make a quick profit.