real jam
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Anything exceptionally good.
Register: slang
Examples
That's the real jam!
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
a sporting phrase, meaning anything exceptionally good. It is said to be REAL JAM for those who back a horse at a long price, when the animal wins, or comes to a short figure.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
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Common questions
What does “real jam” mean?
Anything exceptionally good.
Is “real jam” formal or informal?
real jam is generally slang.
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