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jolly along

verb

To keep (someone) happy or compliant, as by encouragement or flattery.

“When there was a shipping delay, the salesman jollied the purchasing agent along to keep him from canceling the order.”

Similar

cheer cheer upjolly up

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Meanings

verbjolly along (third-person singular simple present jollies along, present participle jollying along, simple past and past participle jollied along)

present singular third person jollies along · participle present jollying along · participle past jollied along · past jollied along

idiomaticinformalTo keep (someone) happy or compliant, as by encouragement or flattery.
When there was a shipping delay, the salesman jollied the purchasing agent along to keep him from canceling the order.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbcause (somebody) to feel happier or more cheerful

Similar

cheer cheer upjolly up

Broader

Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry

APA

jolly along. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jolly%20along

MLA

“jolly along.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jolly%20along. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jolly along,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jolly%20along.

Source: jolly along on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.