jury rigged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "jury rigged" is not correct; the correct term is "jury-rigged." You can use it to describe a temporary or makeshift solution that is put together quickly, often using whatever materials are available.
Example: "After the storm damaged our fence, we jury-rigged a temporary barrier with some old wood and tarps."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Keeping messages safe from prying eyes remains jury-rigged today.

The Economist

His political philosophy was amateur, and jury-rigged.

The New Yorker

One concern was that polls were jury-rigged.

The New Yorker

Efforts are often jury-rigged from the ground up.

The Washington Post

Jury-rigged electrical wires braid into a spidery lattice overhead.

The New York Times

They studied his jury-rigged ropes and harnesses.

The New York Times - Sports

People tote their things in jury-rigged contraptions or in wheelie bags.

The New Yorker

The term is "jury-rigged" — not to be confused with "jerry-built".

The New York Times

The jury-rigged system has become more efficient in recent weeks.

The New York Times

The water in the jury-rigged wells the men have been dug has been deliberately spoiled.

The Guardian

By Sept. 17, when the stock markets reopened, his jury-rigged trading team was ready.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the hyphenated form "jury-rigged". This is the correct and accepted spelling. Using "jury rigged" is considered an error.

Common error

Avoid writing "jury rigged" as two separate words. The correct form is "jury-rigged". This small hyphen makes a big difference in clarity and correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "jury rigged" functions incorrectly as an adjective modifying a noun. The correct form, "jury-rigged", is used to describe something that has been temporarily or hastily assembled. As Ludwig AI points out, this version is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "jury rigged" is an incorrect form. The correct spelling is "jury-rigged", with a hyphen. As Ludwig AI indicates, using the unhyphenated form is a grammatical error. It's used as an adjective to describe something that is temporarily or hastily assembled. While the intent might be clear, the incorrect spelling detracts from the message and could undermine your credibility. When describing makeshift repairs or solutions, remember the hyphen and use "jury-rigged".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jury-rigged

Includes a hyphen, correcting the spelling to the proper form.

makeshift

Describes something quickly made or assembled for temporary use.

temporary fix

Focuses on the short-term nature of the repair or solution.

improvised

Highlights the act of creating something from whatever is available.

cobbled together

Suggests a rough or hasty assembly.

patched up

Emphasizes the act of mending something, often temporarily.

hastily assembled

Focuses on the speed and lack of precision in the construction.

roughly constructed

Highlights the lack of refinement in the creation.

quick fix

Highlights the speed and lack of precision in the creation.

band-aid solution

Implies a superficial or inadequate solution.

FAQs

What is the correct spelling: "jury rigged" or "jury-rigged"?

The correct spelling is "jury-rigged". The unhyphenated form, "jury rigged", is considered incorrect.

How can I use "jury-rigged" in a sentence?

You can use "jury-rigged" to describe a temporary or makeshift solution. For example: "After the storm, we jury-rigged a temporary roof with tarps and plywood."

What does "jury-rigged" mean?

"Jury-rigged" means something that is temporarily assembled or repaired using whatever materials are available.

What can I say instead of "jury-rigged"?

You can use alternatives like "makeshift", "improvised", or "cobbled together" depending on the context.