a phrase???

Question

I am 37 and have heard the phrases"the gig is up"in many situations.i have heard it is gun fights ,in mystries solved and possibly in sailing
?which is correct?

Answer 1

I think you mean "the JIG is up", not "the GIG is up".

Check this out: http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/words/gigjig.html

I personally NEVER heard "the gig is up" until I saw your post. I think "gig" is wrong.

Answer 2

The phrase goes back to the mid 12th century, in feudal Britain (and France). At that time, it was customary for musicians and other entertainers to be supported (fed, housed, etc.) by feudal lords for the duration of their stay (also called their "gig"). Those who were of poor quality or were only posing in order to obtain an easy living were told that their "gig is up" and were escorted off the lord's lands. They were faced with finding honest work, attempting to dupe someone else, or starving. The phrase has come to be used when confronting anyone who has been caught doing anything illegal, immoral, etc. for his or her own personal gain. The word "jig" is sometimes used instead of "gig", but the meaning is identical.

Answer 3

Not sure where it comes from specifically but it means the tak is over or the party is over. A "gig" is a common term used to suggest a band performance. "The Beatles played a gig last night." You hear it all the time because it's used to describe the ending of about any function; job, party, perfomance, life, etc.

Answer 4

In this usage it's "jig is up." Although I couldn't find the exact phrase anywhere, jig is usually a dance. So, the dance is over.
A good idiom dictionary should have it.

Answer 5

In the movies,when the cops catch the bad guys, they always said "The jig is up" Don't ask me what it means. Maybe it means the dance is over. Who knows. I ain't THAT old.

Answer 6

Maybe in a musical sense too?