jive

Jive is a term with several distinct meanings in English. It can describe a fast dance, a style of slang, and related cultural expressions. The different senses are linked by origins in African American popular culture of the 20th century.

In dance, jive refers to a lively partner dance that developed from the Lindy Hop and other Harlem swing dances in the 1930s and 1940s. It is one of the Latin dances recognized for international ballroom competition, alongside cha-cha, samba, rumba, and paso doble. Jive is performed to up-tempo music and features quick, syncopated steps, kicks, swivels, and a distinctive bouncing motion. American-style and International-style jive differ in posture and technique but share the same energetic character.

As slang, jive denotes insincere, deceptive, or nonsensical talk, commonly described as "jive talk." The term originates in African American vernacular English and jazz-era slang, becoming widespread in mid-20th-century American English. It can function as a noun ("the jive"), an adjective ("jive" meaning fake or low-quality), or a verb ("to jive" meaning to talk nonsense or to mislead).

Some phrases associated with jive include "jive turkey"—a humorous insult for a pompous or deceitful person. In contemporary usage, the term is most often encountered in historical or cultural discussions of dance, music, and slang.