Open vs Somebody's jimmying the window

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Open

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adjective

Somebody's jimmying the window

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most formal: Open Most common: Open

	Open	Somebody's jimmying the window
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈəʊpən/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈəʊpən/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈsʌmbədiz ˈdʒɪmiɪŋ ðə ˈwɪndəʊ// 🇺🇸 //ˈsʌmbəˌdiz ˈdʒɪmiɪŋ ðə ˈwɪndoʊ//
Meaning	To make something not closed; to allow access.	Someone is trying to open the window forcefully.
Example	Please open the window to let in some fresh air.	Somebody's jimmying the window, we need to call the police!
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	A1	-
Part of speech	adjective
Collocations	be, gape, hang, fully, wide, partially, be, gape, hang, fully, wide, partially, be, gape, hang, fully, wide, partially, be, gape, hang, fully, wide, partially, be, gape, hang, fully, wide, partially, be, declare something, officially, be, remain, stay, to, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, about, with	somebody's always jimmying, caught jimmying, try jimmying, stop somebody from jimmying, hear somebody jimmying
Antonyms	close, shut	-
Common mistakes	Using 'opened' in passive forms incorrectly (e.g., 'The door was opened by him' instead of 'The door was opened'), Confusing 'open' with 'close' in oppositional statements, Mixing up 'open' and 'unlocked'	Confusing 'jimmying' with 'jimmied' which is the past tense., Using 'someone' instead of 'somebody' makes it sound less urgent., Mixing up with other break-in terms like 'smashed' or 'broke' which imply different actions.
Usage notes	Use 'open' in both literal contexts (like doors and windows) and figurative ones (like open discussions). Avoid using it in very formal writing.	Used informally to describe someone attempting to break into a place by prying open a window, especially with a tool. Often carries a sense of urgency or alarm.

See it in real clips

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

You said open the barrier?

That's why they're made to open like that.

The Pitt › S1 E1

with an open fracture dislocation.

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

You said open the barrier?

That's why they're made to open like that.

Open

The Sopranos › S1 E1

Somebody's jimmying the window.

Somebody's jimmying the window

Frequently asked questions: Open vs Somebody's jimmying the window

What's the difference between Open and Somebody's jimmying the window?

Open: To make something not closed; to allow access. Somebody's jimmying the window: Someone is trying to open the window forcefully.

Which is more formal: Open and Somebody's jimmying the window?

Open is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Open and Somebody's jimmying the window?

Open is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Open: Please open the window to let in some fresh air. Somebody's jimmying the window: Somebody's jimmying the window, we need to call the police!

Can I use Open and Somebody's jimmying the window interchangeably?

Not always. Open and Somebody's jimmying the window are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.