Jamb-ke-dab

Q: Does it mean the same as “smack-dab”?

Close, but “jamb-ke-dab” often implies being right up against something.

Q: How would you use it naturally?

“I come jamb-ke-dab up agin the porch.”

In Southern Appalachian speech - especially in parts of western North Carolina - "jamb-ke-dab" means close up, tight against, or completely.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #OldTimers

synonyms: smack-dab, right up against, jam-up, dead-up, plumb-up

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've never heard 'jamb-ke-dab' myself, but it's one of my favorites I've read.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've never heard 'jamb-ke-dab' myself, but it's one of my favorites I've read.

Pronunciation

[JA-yum-kuh-DA-yuhb]
/ˈdʒæ.jəm.kə.ˈdæ.jəb/

Meaning & Usage

- Close up / tight against (adverb or adjective)

Elmer:

How close’d you get to that house?

Earl:

I rid jamb-ke-dab up agin it - couldn’t’ve got no closer.

Ruby:

You parked jamb-ke-dab against the trash can again.

Mae:

It’s a tight driveway!

variations: jam-ke-dab

★ If you hear "jamb-ke-dab," you’re listenin’ to real-deal mountain talk - the same family of expressions as "smack-dab," but rarer and more local. ★

Origin and Etymology

"Jamb-ke-dab" belongs to an older Appalachian pattern of intensifiers ending in -dab, found especially in the North Carolina mountains. The first element ("jamb-") carries the sense of being pressed tight or jammed up against something. Together they form an emphatic phrase meaning "right up close."

Usage Notes

This expression is highly localized to the Southern Highlands and most commonly remembered by older speakers. It works much like "smack-dab," but often adds a sense of physical contact or near-contact.

Most natural with "up agin" ("against").
Middle syllables blur in natural speech.
Used for precision, closeness, and emphasis.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "jamb-ke-dab" still used today?

Rarely - mainly among older Appalachian speakers, especially in parts of western North Carolina.

Does it mean the same as "smack-dab"?

Close, but "jamb-ke-dab" often implies being right up against something.

How would you use it naturally?

"I come jamb-ke-dab up agin the porch."

Is the spelling fixed?

No - it’s a spoken form, so spellings vary.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 9). Jamb-ke-dab. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jamb-ke-dab
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Jamb-ke-dab." HillbillySlang.com, 9 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jamb-ke-dab.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Jamb-ke-dab." HillbillySlang.com. December 9, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/jamb-ke-dab.