What Does “Jolly sb along” Mean?
“Jolly sb along” means to encourage or urge someone to move faster or continue doing something, often in a cheerful or friendly way.
Introduction
The phrase “jolly sb along” is a common English phrasal verb used to motivate or prompt someone to hurry up or keep going. The “sb” stands for somebody, indicating that this phrase is used with a person as the object. The jolly sb along meaning involves a friendly push or encouragement rather than a forceful command. It often implies a lighthearted or upbeat tone, making it a polite way to tell someone to speed up or proceed. This phrase is useful in everyday conversation, especially when you want to keep things positive while urging action.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: jolly somebody along
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to encourage someone to move faster or continue
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Jolly sb along” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object (sb) between the verb and the particle “along.”
- Correct: I jollied him along.
- Also correct: I jollied along him. (less common)
However, the most natural and common form is to put the object right after “jolly” and before “along.”
Pattern: jolly + somebody + along
How to Use “Jolly sb along”?
You use “jolly sb along” when you want to cheerfully encourage someone to hurry up or keep moving forward. It can be used in casual conversations or even in written English to describe someone giving a friendly push. The tone is usually light and positive.
It often applies in situations like helping children get ready, urging coworkers to finish tasks, or motivating friends to keep up during a walk.
Examples
Here are some natural examples using “jolly sb along in a sentence”:
- The teacher jollied the students along during the group activity to keep things on schedule.
- We jollied the kids along so they wouldn’t be late for the movie.
- She jollied him along when he started to slow down on the hike.
- His boss jollied him along to finish the report before the deadline.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the correct placement of the object or misuse the phrase in a serious tone. Remember, “jolly sb along” is friendly and encouraging, not harsh or demanding.
- Incorrect: I jollied along him to hurry up. (awkward word order)
- Correct: I jollied him along to hurry up.
- Incorrect: She jollied him along angrily. (tone mismatch)
- Correct: She jollied him along cheerfully.
Differences / Synonyms
“Jolly sb along” is similar to phrases like “hurry sb up” or “push sb along,” but it has a more playful and friendly tone. Unlike “rush” or “force,” which can sound harsh, “jolly along” suggests encouragement with kindness.
For example, “push sb along” can sometimes feel more forceful, while “jolly sb along” is lighter and more positive.
Common Collocations
When using “jolly sb along,” you often see it with people or groups, especially in contexts of movement or tasks.
- jolly the kids along – encourage children to move faster
- jolly the team along – motivate a group to keep working
- jolly someone along the process – help someone complete a task faster
- jolly passengers along – encourage travelers to board or move quicker
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of jolly sb along:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “jolly sb along”:
Anna: The kids are taking forever to get ready!
Tom: I’ll jolly them along so we’re not late.
Anna: Thanks! That always works.
Practice
Try to complete the sentence with the correct form of “jolly sb along”:
- We need to _______ the team _______ to finish on time.
- She _______ her children _______ so they wouldn’t miss the bus.
Answers: jolly / along; jollied / along
FAQs
- What does “jolly sb along” mean?
It means to encourage someone to move faster or continue in a friendly way.
- Is “jolly sb along” formal or informal?
It is informal and often used in casual conversation.
- Can I use “jolly sb along” with objects?
No, it is used with people, not objects.
- Is “jolly sb along” separable?
Yes, you can separate the object from the verb and particle.
- What are some synonyms for “jolly sb along”?
Some synonyms are “hurry sb up,” “push sb along,” and “encourage sb.”
