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Jackanapes: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Jackanapes noun. A cheeky, impertinent person, especially a young one.
How to say it
JAK-uh-nayps/ˈdʒakəneɪps/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (JAK).
Jackanapes in a sentence
Some young jackanapes rang our doorbell and ran off three times.
The old colonel dismissed the critic as a jumped-up jackanapes.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- scamp
- rascal
- upstart
- whippersnapper
Where jackanapes comes from
Its first meaning was a tame ape or monkey; where the name comes from is uncertain.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The old colonel dismissed the critic as a jumped-up _____.
- jackanapes
- pooh-bah
- slapstick
Show the answer
jackanapes: The old colonel dismissed the critic as a jumped-up jackanapes.