jeering at

USAGE SUMMARY

"jeering at" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing someone mocking or ridiculing another person in a scornful manner. Example: The crowd was jeering at the player after his mistake. Alternative expressions include "mocking," "ridiculing," and "taunting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Crowd jeering at that, and I'm not surprised.

The Guardian

Fifteen seconds later, an onscreen audience was jeering at them.

The New York Times - Style

Men, too, are not immune to the six-packs jeering at them from the fitness aisles.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And they are often accused of harassing gay men — spitting at them on the street, jeering at them, or worse.

The New Yorker

Instead of jeering at the Boomers, we should be helping them to carry on contributing well into old age.

Independent

Take an embattled brand, wrap it up in Desert MARPAT and dare anyone to start jeering at it.

The Guardian - Sport

The hero imagines his ravaged body jeering at him: "For all your higher plane and beloved evolution . . .

The New Yorker

So we stood there, these louts with drinks, jeering at them, yelling, 'Run, you lazy bastards, run!

The Guardian - Film

A wonderful scene in the film shows her strutting naked in the Lebanese sun, jeering at shocked Palestinian recruits.

The Guardian

Balls did says that 300 Tory MPs were jeering at him, and that it was "very, very, very loud".

The Guardian

When Steve Coogan broke ranks to scold the Top Gear seat-sniffers for jeering at Mexicans, you could sense the bafflement on both sides.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "jeering at" when you want to emphasize the act of scornful mockery directed towards a specific target. For example, "The crowd was "jeering at" the opposing team's players."

Common error

Avoid using "jeering on" instead of "jeering at". "Jeering at" indicates directing mockery towards someone, while "jeering on" is not standard English and could confuse your reader. Prefer other expression like "cheering on".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "jeering at" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically following a verb to describe the act of mocking or ridiculing someone or something in a scornful manner. Ludwig confirms its correct usage and provides many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "jeering at" is a common and grammatically sound way to express scornful mockery. As Ludwig confirms, it is frequently found in News & Media contexts, indicating a neutral register despite the negative connotation of the action it describes. While alternatives like "mocking" or "ridiculing" exist, "jeering at" specifically emphasizes the direct target of the derision. Remember to use "jeering at" to clearly indicate that someone is being mocked, and avoid the non-standard "jeering on."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jeering

Uses the verb form of jeering without the preposition 'at'.

mocking

Uses a single verb to convey the act of derision, simplifying the phrase.

scoffing at

Emphasizes disdain and disbelief, adding a layer of contempt.

ridiculing

Highlights the act of making someone or something appear foolish.

taunting

Suggests a more aggressive and provocative form of mockery.

deriding

Implies a formal or intellectual form of contempt.

sneering at

Indicates a subtle yet disdainful expression of mockery.

making fun of

A more informal and general way of expressing mockery.

laughing at

Focuses on the act of amusement at someone else's expense.

heckling

Refers specifically to interrupting someone with critical or aggressive comments.

FAQs

How can I use "jeering at" in a sentence?

Use "jeering at" to describe a group or individual expressing scornful mockery toward someone. For instance, "The students were "jeering at" the politician during his speech."

What's a good alternative to "jeering at"?

Depending on the context, you could use "mocking", "ridiculing", or "taunting" as alternatives to "jeering at".

Is it ever appropriate to use "jeering on" instead of "jeering at"?

"Jeering on" isn't standard English. Use "jeering at" to indicate mockery directed at someone. To encourage someone, use "cheering on".

What is the difference between "jeering at" and "laughing at"?

"Laughing at" implies finding something amusing, while "jeering at" suggests a more scornful and derisive reaction. "Jeering at" is intended to belittle, whereas "laughing at" is a reaction to something perceived as funny or absurd.