jacks

Everyday

1. Jacks is a children's game where you toss a small ball and pick up small metal or plastic pieces called jacks before catching it. tree →
2. Jacks are playing cards with a picture of a young man, worth between 10 and the queen. tree →
3. A jack is a tool that lifts a car off the ground. tree →
4. (informal, Australia) «Jacks» means police; «be jack of» means be tired of. tree →

In the lessons

Used in playground games, card games and car safety (use a jack to change a tyre). In maths, a standard deck has 4 jacks out of 52 cards.

Examples

• We played jacks at break time. tree →
• She picked up three jacks before the ball bounced. tree →
• He had two jacks in his hand of cards. tree →
• Dad used a jack to lift the car. tree →
• There are four jacks in a pack of cards. tree →
• Never crawl under a car held only by a jack. tree →

Note

Also called «knucklebones» or «fivestones» in the UK and Australia. In probability: chance of drawing a jack = 4 out of 52, or 1 in 13. Safety: a car on a jack can fall.