Jim-dandy
adj, noun, slang ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
- 1 Something that is a very superior example of its kind. US, colloquial
"The tattered man stood musing."
- 1 Excellent, outstanding. US, colloquial
"As its speed increased, and the black masses of chaparral went whizzing past on either side, the express messenger, lighting his pipe, looked through his window and remarked, feelingly: "What a jim-dandy place for a hold-up!""
Example
More examples"As its speed increased, and the black masses of chaparral went whizzing past on either side, the express messenger, lighting his pipe, looked through his window and remarked, feelingly: "What a jim-dandy place for a hold-up!""
Etymology
Uncertain. Possibly a reference to the song Dandy Jim of Caroline (words by Silas Sexton Steel and music by J. Richard Myers), which was popular in the 1840s, around the time the term emerged. It was subsequently popularized by sports announcers in the late 1800s.
More for "jim-dandy"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.