"Jack-o-lanterns" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Jack-o'-lanterns are carved pumpkins that are typically lit up from the inside and displayed during the Halloween season, often with designs or faces carved into the pumpkin. The term is believed to have originated from Irish folklore, where Stingy Jack was said to have tricked the devil and was forced to roam the earth with only a lantern made from a turnip to light his way. When Irish immigrants came to America, they found pumpkins were a more abundant and easier to carve than turnips, and the jack-o'-lantern was born.
Jacinto is a noun. It refers to rosemary, a shrub (Rosmarinus officinalis) native to the Mediterranean region, with needle-like leaves and small blue flowers. It is often used in cooking, particularly with meats and soups, and is also used in traditional medicine and perfumes.
A jack-in-a-box is a type of toy consisting of a box with a spring-loaded figure of a clown or other character inside. When the box is lifted or opened, the figure suddenly pops out, often with a loud noise and a startling motion, causing surprise and delight, especially in children. The phrase is also sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone or something that bursts into prominence or attention unexpectedly.
A jack-in-the-box is a toy that consists of a box with a spring-loaded figure, typically a clown or other character, that suddenly pops up and out of the box when a spring is released or a lever is pressed. This is often used to describe a surprise or a sudden, unexpected event.
A jack-knife is a type of folding knife with a blade that folds out from the handle and can be opened and closed. Idiomatically, a jack-knife also refers to something that is severely criticized or cut down to size, often in a sarcastic or humorous way, as if "cutting one down to the size of a folded knife".
To jack-knife means to fold or bend something, usually a vehicle, in half, often to the point where it is perpendicular to its original direction. In the context of transportation, a jack-knifed vehicle refers to a large vehicle, such as a truck or bus, that has suddenly turned to its side or folded in upon itself, often as a result of sudden braking or loss of control, blocking traffic and potentially causing accidents or injuries.