From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishjerkjerk1 /dʒɜːk $ dʒɜːrk/ ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]MOVE something OR somebody to move with a quick sudden movement, or to make part of your body move in this way Wilcox jerked his head to indicate that they should move on. ‘Is that the only way out of here?’ he asked, jerking a thumb at the door.jerk back/up/forwards etc Suddenly, he jerked back in his chair. The sound of the phone jerked me awake.2 [intransitive, transitive]PULL to pull something suddenly and roughlyjerk at Doyle jerked at the girl’s hair to make her sit down. She jerked open the car door and got out. → jerk somebody around → jerk off → jerk out something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
jerk• The doctor jerked a thumb to the right.• The seat beneath me swayed and jerked according to the simplemindedness of that hunching locomotive fit for a child.• In the early hours of the morning, at about three, Stephen jerked awake from a nightmare.• His whole body had jerked, he had nearly hit buy rather than sell mid-deal.• Isabel jerked her hand away from his and shoved it in her pocket.• Sue jerked her thumb toward the garage.• Two men appeared in front of him, and he caught her wrist and jerked her to one side, raising his sword.• She mouthed the name at Ottershaw, and he jerked his head towards the kitchen.• Bonaventure, but none of them reported any of the jerking movement, incontinence or tongue-biting that usually accompanies seizures.• Mark jerked the phone away from the girl.• Graham had to jerk the steering wheel to the left to avoid a crash.• He jerked the string and the light came on.• A limousine carrying Harris and several other black passengers jerked to a stop.• He jerked upright when the phone rang.• They jerked wildly in toward the cliff, among the blocks of stone.jerked ... awake• When she jerked awake and saw that Anna was nodding over the book, she sent her up to bed.• Each morning I jerked awake at four or five after dreaming of Ellie.• About 2 a. m. he was jerked awake by noises.• In the early hours of the morning, at about three, Stephen jerked awake from a nightmare.• Twice he jerked awake, realizing he had been walking in his sleep.• She put both hands before her and jerked wide awake with a scream.jerked open• I listen for the eyes jerked open on pillows, Their dreams washed with sudden ugly petroleum.• Edward jerked open the door, interposing himself so that they should not stare.• He marched past the dishevelled double bed, jerked open the nearest window, and climbed outside.• I jerked open the side door and went into the house.jerkjerk2 noun [countable] 1 MOVE something OR somebodya sudden quick movement He gave a sudden jerk of his head.with a jerk She started the car with a jerk and hit the bumper of the car in front.2 informalSTUPID/NOT SENSIBLE someone, especially a man, who is stupid or who does things that annoy or hurt other people SYN idiot I swore at him for being such a jerk.Examples from the Corpus
jerk• Ignore him. He's just a jerk.• I liked the job, but the manager was a jerk.• The man indicated the one in the far corner with a jerk of his head.• The train moved off with a jerk.• Why do you put up with a jerk like that?• His eyes blinked violently in a spasm that screwed up his face in rapid jerks.• Her husband was being a real jerk about the divorce.• She pulled the dog back with a sharp jerk of his leash.• Some jerk just drove right into the back of my car.• She seems to always end up in a relationship with some total jerk.• He's an unprofessional jerk who's always pestering the women in the office.• Ow! You jerk, that hurt!with a jerk• The boat moved forward with a jerking motion as the line to the police launch slacked and tightened in the swell.jerkjerk3 adjective → jerk chicken/pork etcOrigin jerk1 (1500-1600) Probably from yerk “to hit, pull suddenly” ((16-19 centuries)) jerk2 1. (1500-1600) → JERK12. (1900-2000) Probably from jerk off 