The Collaborative International Dictionary
Jerk \Jerk\, n.
-
A short, sudden pull, thrust, push, twitch, jolt, shake, or similar motion.
His jade gave him a jerk.
--B. Jonson. -
A sudden start or spring.
Lobsters . . . swim backwards by jerks or springs.
--Grew. -
A foolish, stupid, or otherwise contemptible person.
Syn: jerkoff.
-
(Sport) The lifting of a weight, in a single rapid motion, from shoulder height until the arms are outstretched above the head; distinguished from press in that the motion in a jerk is more rapid, and the body may be moved under the weight to assist completion of the movement; as, a clean and jerk of two hundred pounds.
2. Calisthenic exercises, such as push-ups or deep knee bends; also called physical jerks. [British]
Wikipedia
Physical Jerks is a 1997 Italian comedy film directed by Stefano Reali. It is an adaptation of a semi-autobiographical comedy play by the same Reali.
The English version of its title is the (chiefly British) informal term for physical exercise.
Usage examples of "physical jerks".
Over to the right a little squad of WAAFs were standing in open order in a field doing physical jerks.
And in this, as usual, they are more traditional, more in accord with the Christian past than the well-to-do women who try to stay young at forty by means of physical jerks, cosmetics and avoidance of child-bearing.
If only I could drive myself to do physical jerks for an hour a day, read improving books for an hour a day, practise on the piano for an hour a day, philosophize and ponder on life for an hour a day, eat less, drink less, sleep less, work harder, eat wholemeal bread, drink eight gallons of water a day, stop smoking, and overcome my ribald disdain for nice simple people who, whatever their short-comings, Mean Well -- if only I could do all these things, what a wonderful fellow I should be!
He goes on like that for about ten minutes, like doing physical jerks.
So it was a change of clothes before jogging in step over to the gymnasium for physical jerks followed by boxing instruction.
Every morning at five Knocker had them on their feet for half an hour's physical jerks, just to get the blood circulating properly through their brains.
First thing tomorrow, up at dawn, three times round the quadrangle and back here for physical jerks!