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clean and jerk

American

noun

Weightlifting.

a lift in which a barbell is raised from the floor to shoulder height where it is brought to rest and then, with a lunging movement by the lifter, is thrust overhead so the arms extend straight in the air, being held in this position for a short, specified length of time.

Etymology

Origin of clean and jerk

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Aided by massive British support in the crowd, Campbell roared in celebration after lifting the weight, which put her in third going into the clean and jerk.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2024

England's Chris Murray wins weightlifting gold in the men's 81kg division, setting a new Games record, after lifting 325kg in total from his snatch and clean and jerk lifts.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2022

In 1957, he became the world’s first man under 200 pounds to clean and jerk 400.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2021

She was finished at halftime, essentially, without any points to carry into the second discipline, the clean and jerk.

From Washington Post • Aug. 2, 2021

A very good 197-lb weight lifter lifted 192 kg in a move called the clean and jerk.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023