"the jig is up" meaning in English

See the jig is up in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Phrase

Audio: En-au-the jig is up.ogg [Australia] Forms: the jig was up [past]
Etymology: Jig is an old term for a lively dance, and in the Elizabethan era the word also became slang for a practical joke or a trick. This idiom derives from this obsolete slang word. Etymology templates: {{m|en|jig|Jig}} Jig Head templates: {{head|en|phrase|simple past|the jig was up}} the jig is up (simple past the jig was up)
  1. (Australia, New Zealand, US, idiomatic) An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defense", or if spoken to a person who has just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, where it means "You've been discovered". Wikipedia link: Elizabethan era Tags: Australia, New-Zealand, US, idiomatic Synonyms: gotcha, the game is up, sussed, jig's up, one's jig is up, one's jig's up, the jig's up

Download JSON data for the jig is up meaning in English (3.9kB)

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          "word": "jig's up"
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          "ref": "1833, Seba Smith (as Jack Downing), The life and writings of Major Jack Downing, of Downingville, away down East in the State of Maine, Lilly; Wait; Colman & Holden, page 176",
          "text": "When I first told 'em how the jig was up with us, that the British were going to have the land, without any fighting about it, I never see fellows so mad before in my life, unless it was Major Eaton at Washington when he sot out to flog Mr. Ingham.",
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      "word": "jig's up"
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