- very
- That's a jolly good idea.
- It was jolly lucky it didn’t rain.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French jolif, an earlier form of joli ‘pretty’, perhaps from Old Norse jól, originally applied to a heathen festival lasting twelve days, later to Christmas.
Idioms
jolly good!
- (old-fashioned, British English, informal) used to show that you approve of something that somebody has just said
- ‘I’ll be there by ten o’clock.’ ‘Jolly good!’
jolly well
- (old-fashioned, British English, informal) used to emphasize a statement when you are annoyed about something
- If you don't come now, you can jolly well walk home!
Check pronunciation:
jolly