Synonyms for jingo
noun a warlike personAntonyms for jingo
Word Origin & History
"mindless, gung-ho patriot," 1878, picked up from the refrain of a music hall song written by G.W. Hunt, and sung by "Gilbert H. MacDermott" (1845-1901), supporting aggressive British policy toward Russia at a time of international tension. ("We don't want to fight, But by Jingo! if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the men, We've got the money too.")
As an asseveration, it was in colloquial use since 1690s, and is apparently yet another euphemism for Jesus, influenced by conjurer's gibberish presto-jingo (1660s). The frequent suggestion that it somehow derives from Basque Jinko "god" is "not impossible," but "as yet unsupported by evidence" [OED].
Example Sentences forjingo
There's the coach, by Jingo, three bays and a grey—no chance of the box—is this a hat?
By jingo, I think he might say ‘splice the main brace’ now, after all this jollification!
By jingo, I never saw such a pack of young gamecocks in my life.
They are not suspicious of our intentions in spite of what jingo papers say.
Jingo first appears in conjurors' jargon of the 17th century.
You may baulk all the bailiffs, and defy any other man to serve you with a writ; but, by jingo!
He lifted up the cover: it was ducks and green pease, by jingo!
I am no Imperialist, and only on rare and proper occasions a Jingo.
The bully of the music-hall shouting "Jingo" had his special audience.
By jingo, corporal, you certainly have done yourself and all of us proud!