jolly

Everyday

1. Happy, cheerful and friendly. tree →
2. (UK, informal, a bit old-fashioned) Very, as in «jolly good» or «jolly well». tree →
3. (verb, informal) «jolly someone along» — cheer them up to keep them going. tree →
4. (UK, noun, informal) A trip or outing for fun, as in «a jolly». tree →
5. A Jolly Roger is the black flag with a skull and crossbones that pirate ships flew. tree →

In the lessons

In stories: Father Christmas is jolly, a jolly sailor. In British talk: «Jolly good!» «You jolly well will!» In songs: «For he's a jolly good fellow». It tells the reader the mood is happy.

Examples

• Santa is a jolly man with a big laugh. tree →
• We had a jolly time at the party. tree →
• That's jolly good work! (UK) tree →
• You'll jolly well tidy your room! tree →
• The pirates sang a jolly song. tree →
• The staff went on a jolly to the seaside. tree →
• She jollied us along on the long walk. tree →

Note

Comparatives: jollier, jolliest. «Jolly» meaning «very» is British and old-fashioned. The pirate flag is the «Jolly Roger». Adverb form «jollily» is rare.