the jig is up

phrase

Etymology

Derives from the obsolete Elizabethan-era slang use of the word jig, originally meaning a lively dance, which evolved to denote a practical joke or trick.

Definitions

  1. Used to express that a deception, trick, or dishonest scheme has been discovered,…

    Used to express that a deception, trick, or dishonest scheme has been discovered, signaling the end of the ruse.

    • We knew then the jig was up, and it was no grin matter for us.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for the jig is up. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA