Mutt and Jeff
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Names given to a pair of companions, usually male, of whom one is tall and the other short.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The bowler-hatted Terry-Thomas and Cooper's gangling American business partner (Alex Nicol) team up, Mutt-and-Jeff fashion.
Quoted attestation: 1962, "Facial Farceur" (film review of A Matter of WHO), Time, 10 Aug.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Mutt and Jeff” mean?
Names given to a pair of companions, usually male, of whom one is tall and the other short.
Is “Mutt and Jeff” formal or informal?
Mutt and Jeff is generally slang.