First recorded in 1585–95; perhaps jocular; earlier called Jew's trump
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It sounds something like a Jew’s harp, but much louder.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2018
I do not pretend that my own instrument is an organ: but I would rather it should be the smallest harmonicum than the strongest and shrillest Jew's harp.
From Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Henry Reeve, C.B., D.C.L. In Two Volumes. Volume II. by Laughton, John Knox
In tenderer years indeed I had made essay upon the Jew's harp, but had relinquished it without a sigh.
From Sir John Constantine Memoirs of His Adventures At Home and Abroad and Particularly in the Island of Corsica: Beginning with the Year 1756 by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir
The Jew’s harp was played successfully, and Saul was often relieved from the evil spirit by David’s ministrations.
From Theological Essays by Bradlaugh, Charles
He carries a Jew's harp and a mouth-organ, and when not fingering one he is blowing music-hall tunes out of the other.
From The Red Horizon by MacGill, Patrick
He likes the Rolling Stones, he plays the jew’s-harp — it’s incredible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2019
Ms. Arnold delivered the texts in a half-sung Sprechstimme manner over the drone of a lone jew’s-harp.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2011
The drone of a jew's-harp, which serves as a musical bridge in Up on Cripple Creek, is actually produced by the wah-wah pedal on Garth's clavinette.
From Time Magazine Archive
But the man who just likes to sing in the bathtub or twang a lick on the jew's-harp has never had a book to tell him where to go from there.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Where’s the jew’s-harp, Jo?” cried Laurie, as soon as he was within speaking distance.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
