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.

"It's Olympic lifts we're doing - clean and jerk, snatches, squats, the lot," says Hammy McMillan, who's gold medal-tipped men's rink start their campaign on Wednesday.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

She also broke the snatch Commonwealth record with 124kg and did the same in the clean and jerk, with 162kg.

From BBC • Aug. 3, 2022

The defending champion from Georgia lifted 223 kilograms in the snatch and 265kg in the clean and jerk for a total 488kg on Wednesday.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 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