From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishjollyjol‧ly1 /ˈdʒɒli $ ˈdʒɑːli/ adjective especially British English 1 HAPPYhappy and enjoying yourself Everybody was in a very relaxed and jolly mood.2 old-fashionedNICE very pleasant and enjoyable We had a jolly time with the family.
Examples from the Corpus
jolly• Why had he turned so jolly all of a sudden?• Sue was always jolly and helpful.• The innovation stirred the ashram to mirth and jolly comment.• And we did have some jolly evenings.• They all made a jolly family.• Peter Webster, forty-seven, is a jaunty, jolly fellow.• But a nice young man who wanted a bit of chivvying from a jolly girl-friend.• My uncle was a jolly man with a loud laugh.• a very jolly occasion• Arthur was their best man and there were jolly pictures of the wedding in the papers.• a jolly Santa Claus• After Anaximenes came some one jolly, scoffing, and yet profound: the philosopher-poet Xenopha-nes.jollyjolly2 adverb British English old-fashioned informal 1 VERYvery Sounds like a jolly good idea to me. It was all jolly good fun.2 → jolly well3 → jolly good!Examples from the Corpus
jolly• I think bathing is jolly good f-fun.• Whatever, he did a jolly good job.• And if you have what it takes and can stand the pace, a jolly good salary.• It sounds to me as if you all need a jolly good thrashing.• The canteen was jolly good value.• For he's a jolly good Weller Duh!jolly good fun• I know it all sounds like jolly good fun, but at thirty-five a man ought to have some sort of career.jollyjolly3 verb (jollied, jollying, jollies) British English → jolly somebody along → jolly somebody into something → jolly something ↔ up→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
jolly• She tried to jolly herself into enthusiasm.• Attempting to jolly him, I told him I suspected the Soviets.• Brisk neon routines jolly the cityscape, like the desk-toys of businessmen.• Where Ken wanted to jolly the world along, Bernard wanted to push it and shove it for its own good.Origin jolly1 (1200-1300) Old French joli “happy, pretty” 