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Expression "the gig/jig is up"



 
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 4:56 am  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #421 "English Slang Idioms (161)", question 7

"The gig is .......... You are under arrest for embezzlement. We can prove that you have been stealing from your employer. Granted, you have a complex way of going about it but it didn't fool us," Detective Burns told Mr. Hammond.

(a) affected
(b) erased
(c) null
(d) up

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #421 "English Slang Idioms (161)", answer 7

"The gig is up. You are under arrest for embezzlement. We can prove that you have been stealing from your employer. Granted, you have a complex way of going about it but it didn't fool us," Detective Burns told Mr. Hammond.

Correct answer: (d) up
_________________________

Hi
"The jig is up" is a well-known expression. Can we assume that 'gig' in this test is supposed to be pronounced the same as the word 'jig'? (Or is 'gig' a typo?)
.
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 7:45 am  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

That's interesting. I didn't know the expression "the gig/jig is up".

MrP
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:26 am  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

A little Googling goes a long way.

Quote:
Deborah Grey clearly states that the "GIG" is up, not the "JIG" as you report.
When someone says the "gig" is up, they mean that an engagement has played its course.

When someone says the "jig" is up, it indicates that a scoundrel has been found out, and the forces of law and order are on their way.

Clearly, there is a vast distinction between the two words.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/words/gigjig.html
Molly
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:44 am  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

So, if Deborah Gray (whoever she is) is to be believed, the spelling should be 'jig'. That is also the spelling I'm familiar with for this idiom.
.
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 13:12 pm  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

Hi

"jig" would be the right use of the known idiom.

The gig is up is quite new to me in usage, but could be perceivably used in the context of general events. However gig is commonly used in specific reference to a concert.

cheers stew.t.
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 16:06 pm  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

Yankee wrote:
So, if Deborah Gray (whoever she is) is to be believed, the spelling should be 'jig'.
.

I guess so.
Molly
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Mon Jun 16, 2008 19:17 pm  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

stew.t. wrote:
However gig commonly used in specific reference to a concert.
The word 'gig' is also used in a couple of other ways -- in reference to a 'gigabyte', for example. But I had never seen the idiom 'the jig is up' written with the word 'gig'. Thus my question to the author of the test sentence. It seems to me that 'gig' is a typo in this test.
.
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Amy
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Expression "the gig/jig is up" Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:53 am  Expression "the gig/jig is up"
 

I've heard it both ways.
Linda
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