jerk around

1. Take unfair advantage of, manipulate or deceive, as in Leave me alone; quit jerking me around! or He was jerking you around when he said he was home all evening. [Slang; mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

He was also something of a jerk around women.

From New York Times

I jerk around to the fry cook, who struggles with his apron.

From Literature

“You’re the jerk around here. You wouldn’t even talk to me yesterday and you expect me to just follow you around or something?”

From Literature

This intensifies as the voice shifts around the room, compelling Winston and the black-suited interrogators to jerk around to face it.

From Los Angeles Times

I felt his weight jerk around my waist.

From Literature

Related Words

• bilk 
• con 
• deceive 
• defraud 
• delude 
• dupe 
• fleece 
• hoodwink 
• mislead 
• swindle 
• trick 
• victimize