jolly well Definition

jolly
adj jollier, jolliest

1. Cheerful or happy.

Thesaurus: cheerful, happy, merry, pleasant, gay, convivial, exuberant, frisky, gladsome, festive, jaunty, jocund, jovial, jubilant, sprightly, sunny; Antonym: sad.

adverb

(Brit)
1. colloq
Very.
Example: jolly good

verb

jollies, jollied, jollying
1. Only in phrases below.

Derivative: jolliness
noun

Idiom: jolly well

(rit)
colloq
Used for emphasis: certainly.
Example: You jolly well deserved it

Etymology: 14c: from French jolif pretty or merry.

Phrasal Verb: jolly someone along

To keep them cheerful and co-operative.

Phrasal Verb: jolly someone into or out of something

To coax or cajole them into or out of it.

Phrasal Verb: jolly someone up

To make them more cheerful.