1. Home
2. Idioms
3. jungle

jungle

---

---

asphalt jungle

An overcrowded, unsafe and/or crime-ridden urban environment or city, characterized by the congestion of large buildings and roads. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. After 10 years living in that asphalt jungle, I'm looking forward to being in a place with a bit of grass and friendly neighbors.

See also: jungle

concrete jungle

An overcrowded, unsafe and/or crime-ridden urban environment or city, characterized by the congestion of large buildings and roads. After years living in that concrete jungle, I'm looking forward to being in a place with a bit of grass and friendly neighbors.

See also: concrete, jungle

jungle telegraph

An informal means of communication or information, especially gossip. Used most commonly in the phrase "hear (something) on the jungle telegraph." (Analogous to "hear (something) through the grapevine.") Primarily heard in UK. I heard on the jungle telegraph that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce! A: "How do you know the company is going bust?" B: "I heard it on the jungle telegraph."

See also: jungle, telegraph

hear (something) on the jungle telegraph

To hear or learn a something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip. Primarily heard in UK. I heard on the jungle telegraph that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce! A: "How do you know the company is going bust?" B: "I heard it on the jungle telegraph."

See also: hear, jungle, on, telegraph

king of the jungle

The lion, especially in cultural or artistic depictions. (Usually a misnomer, as lions typically inhabit deserts or dry forests, as opposed to jungles.) Engraved in striking marble, the king of the jungle stands sentinel over this ancient arena. The king of the jungle is the symbol for the zodiac sign Leo.

See also: jungle, king, of

rubber jungle

An aviation term among pilots and airline crew for the effect created when the rubber oxygen masks in a commercial aircraft deploy from its ceiling. Everyone started to panic when the rubber jungle appeared, so I had to reassure them that it was just a minor hiccup and that we were all perfectly safe.

See also: jungle, rubber

It's a jungle out there.

The real world is severe.; It's hard to get by in everyday life. A: Gee, people are so rude in this town. B: Yup, it's a jungle out there.

See also: jungle, out

the law of the jungle

the way in which only the strongest and cleverest people in a society stay alive or succeed I was brought up on the streets where the law of the jungle applies, so I soon learnt how to look after myself.

See also: jungle, law, of

law of the jungle

Survival of the strongest, as in The recent price war among airlines was governed by the law of the jungle. This term, alluding to the jungle as a place devoid of ethics where brutality and self-interest reign, was first used by Rudyard Kipling in The Jungle Book (1894).

See also: jungle, law, of

asphalt jungle

n. the paved landscape of the city; the city viewed as a savage place. I don’t look forward to spending the rest of my days in an asphalt jungle.

See also: jungle

jungle

n. a vicious area of confusion; the real world. The place is a jungle out there. You’ll grow up fast out there.

jungle juice

n. homemade liquor; any strong liquor. This jungle juice will knock you for a loop.

See also: juice, jungle

jungle mouth

n. a case of very bad breath; breath like the rotting jungle floor. My husband woke up with jungle mouth, and I could hardly stand to be around him.

See also: jungle, mouth

jungled

mod. alcohol intoxicated; affected by jungle juice. He was jungled before he came here.

See also: jungle