jockey

[jok-ee]

noun

plural

jockeys 

1. a person who rides horses professionally in races.

2. Informal.,  a person who pilots, operates, or guides the movement of something, as an airplane or automobile.

verb (used with object)

jockeyed, jockeying 

1. to ride (a horse) as a jockey.

2. Informal.,  to operate or guide the movement of; pilot; drive.

3. to move, bring, put, etc., by skillful maneuvering.

   The movers jockeyed the sofa through the door.

4. to trick or cheat.

   The salesman jockeyed them into buying an expensive car.

5. to manipulate cleverly or trickily.

   He jockeyed himself into office.

verb (used without object)

jockeyed, jockeying 

1. to aim at an advantage by skillful maneuvering.

2. to act trickily; seek an advantage by trickery.

jockey

/ ˈdʒɒkɪ /

noun

1. a person who rides horses in races, esp as a profession or for hire

verb

1. 1. (tr) to ride (a horse) in a race

   2. (intr) to ride as a jockey

2. to try to obtain an advantage by manoeuvring, esp literally in a race or metaphorically, as in a struggle for power (esp in the phrase jockey for position )

3. to trick or cheat (a person)

Other Word Forms

• jockeylike adjective
• jockeyish adjective
• jockeyship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of jockey¹

First recorded in 1520–30 for an earlier sense; special use of Jock + -ey ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of jockey¹

C16 (in the sense: lad): from name Jock + _-ey

Example Sentences

"There are people who are jockeying for position and people who feel like they might have done enough, but then get a call to say they are not in the team and that is tough."

From BBC

But behind the scenes, consultants, lawmakers and would-be candidates already are jockeying for position in the newly competitive or vastly redrawn districts that may soon exist across the state.

From Los Angeles Times

I think he’s jockeying to have a dish named after him.

From Los Angeles Times

The Jacobites are mentioned, but most of the political machinations involve interclan jockeying.

From Los Angeles Times

He’d tried to be a jockey, but horses kept throwing him.

From Los Angeles Times