jerry built

jerry built

Shoddily constructed. Hyphenated if used before a noun. The origin of the term is unknown. You could tell house was jerry built. It looked like it would blow over in a strong wind! Yeah, you didn't fool Mom for a second with that jerry-built story you concocted.
See also: built, Jerry
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

jerry-built

mod. carelessly and awkwardly built. The lawyer’s case was jerry-built, but the jury bought it anyway.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

jerry built

Constructed in a cheap, ramshackle, or otherwise insubstantial fashion. Although the phrase is widely thought to have come from the British World War I slang term for “German,” it well antedates the 20th century. Some possibilities are an old English word for tumble, Jericho (as in Joshua causing the walls to come tumbling down).
See also: built, Jerry
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • Jerry
  • jerry-built
  • round robin
  • a round robin
  • eleventh hour
  • dooper
  • black market
  • a light touch
  • wiggy
  • first hand
References in periodicals archive
At dusk, dine at one of The Woodlands' unique restaurants including the new Jerry Built Homegrown Burgers, Grimaldi's Pizzeria or Texas' only Tommy Bahama Cafe.
The focuser Jerry built consists of two pieces of Vs-inch-thick PVC sheet.
This monograph situates this history of industrial relations at Campbell Soup into broader currents in American industrial relations, the internecine battles within the House of Labour (or what should be more correctly described as a jerry built apartment block falling to bits with tenants fighting over who should take out the garbage), Campbell's struggles with providers of product, its increasing use of public relations after World War II, and the inner-city decline of Camden; a story which can be told of so many parts of America as corporations have taken flight in search of cheaper labour and more favourable tax regimes.
She and Jerry built a wonderful haven on Lake Quinsigamond that will always be remembered with excursions on her boat "Peggy's Ride."
Restoration was an ongoing process as Jerry built the collection.
Q WHAT is the meaning of "jerry built", referring to poorly constructed buildings, etc?
Prince Charles's beloved Georgians did provide a lot of nice houses jerry built. Fortunately with built-in obsolescence they fell down on their own, saving us the trouble.
Perhaps the month's most provocative images accompany our lead feature, "The Church that Jerry Built," critic Roger Copeland's feverishly evocative analysis of the controversial British musical Jerry Springer-The Opera, just now making its landing on American shores.
None of the principal options which younger professionals face seem particularly appealing - live with your parents until well into adulthood, share cramped and jerry built rented accommodation close to work or flee to the ever-expanding suburbs and face the miseries of a long daily commute.
There'll also be twisted Pixies-esque rock 'n' roll from Boston USA's Garrison, with Jerry Built bringing up the rear.
Kids Near Water, Garrison, Jerry Built (November 3).
The other thing is that it was rebuilt by the Victorians and it was jerry built with materials that are now coming to the end of their natural life, whereas St Mary's is grade one listed."
Bill Abbs (Letters June 3) objects to the description of the Tower as "jerry built".
It is an even uglier and more jerry built eyesore - as well as being of less practical use.