gets jammed up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gets jammed up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something becomes stuck, obstructed, or hindered, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "During the busy holiday season, the delivery system often gets jammed up, causing delays in shipments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"So you want to see if you throw a little sinker or a cutter, if a guy gets jammed up or flinches a bit.

The New York Times - Sports

CORRUPTION, of course: the kind that, once exposed, will blow the lid off this town, and everybody, but everybody, gets jammed up.

The New York Times

THE POLICE OFFICER'S FRIEND OR RELATIVE, whose behavior on The Job will place the protagonist in a no-win situation; he gets "jammed up," a phrase you are welcome to use.

The New York Times

Medical evacuations, coups and terrorist incidents aside, International SOS will even do such tasks as put up bail if a corporate vice president for sales gets jammed up with a little unpleasantness involving the gendarmes in, say, Tangier.

The New York Times

But construction to expand Pier D from three lanes to seven will not be finished until August, which means that the checkpoint gets jammed up now during peak travel times.

The New York Times

"The guy who comes home, gets depressed because he's away from his buddies in the military, he doesn't have a job, he doesn't know what to do, he starts drinking, he gets jammed up — instead of getting help, they fall through the cracks," said Mr. Toro, who served in the Vietnam War as a Marine.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"And I got jammed up.

The New Yorker

Don't get jammed up on that.

The New York Times - Food

"We got jammed up in the first turn," Campbell said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Me getting jammed up really messed up the timing," Keller said.

The New York Times - Sports

You wait for a scarce table, battling with a busy host to get jammed up and rushed out.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gets jammed up" to describe situations where something is obstructed or hindered, either literally (like a machine) or figuratively (like a process).

Common error

While understandable, "gets jammed up" is relatively informal. In professional or academic writing, consider using more formal alternatives like "becomes obstructed" or "encounters a bottleneck".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gets jammed up" is that of a verb phrase acting as a predicate in a sentence. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is commonly used and understandable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gets jammed up" is a verb phrase used to describe a state of obstruction or hindrance. While grammatically correct and understandable, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its informal register suggests it may be more appropriate for casual conversation or news articles than for formal academic or professional writing. Alternatives such as "becomes obstructed" or "encounters a bottleneck" offer more formal options. Common contexts for its use include describing traffic delays or stalled negotiations. Understanding these nuances ensures effective and appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gets stuck

A more literal and general alternative, suitable for simple and direct communication.

gets blocked

Similar to "gets stuck" but emphasizes the action of something being intentionally or unintentionally blocked.

becomes obstructed

Replaces the idiomatic "jammed up" with a more formal term, focusing on the physical or metaphorical blockage.

gets held up

Implies a delay or temporary stoppage.

faces an obstruction

More formal and emphasizes the challenge posed by the impediment.

encounters a bottleneck

More specific, suggesting a constriction point that slows down progress.

gets congested

Particularly useful when referring to traffic or networks.

is impeded

A formal way of saying something is being slowed down or prevented from progressing.

is snarled

Evokes a sense of entanglement and difficulty in untangling.

is gridlocked

Describes a situation where movement is completely blocked, often used in the context of traffic.

FAQs

What does "gets jammed up" mean?

The phrase "gets jammed up" means something becomes stuck, obstructed, or hindered, preventing smooth progress or operation. It can apply to physical objects or abstract processes.

What can I say instead of "gets jammed up"?

You can use alternatives like "becomes obstructed", "gets stuck", or "encounters a bottleneck" depending on the context.

Is "gets jammed up" formal or informal?

"Gets jammed up" is generally considered an informal phrase. While acceptable in many contexts, it's best to use more formal alternatives in professional or academic writing.

How to use "gets jammed up" in a sentence?

Example: "During peak hours, the website often "gets jammed up" due to high traffic." Another example: "The negotiations "gets jammed up" over disagreements on key issues."