I read that too! I meant to look it up on the spot, but didn't have a dictionary handy. Where I grew up, CNY, folks always said "jerry-rigged." I think it means the same thing.
about 1 year ago Ecrivaine33 said:First heard this phrase today
I never heard this phrase before until today when I came across it in an article in which Middle East historian David Fromkin said he sees "a breakup of the jerry-built nation," when referring to Iraq's bleak future.
Wikipedia, citing a couple of sources, says its origin are different than jury-rigged, which it says the OED traces to 1788.
The alt.usage.english FAQ has an interesting, if ultimately ambiguous, discussion of the two phrases.
I read that too! I meant to look it up on the spot, but didn't have a dictionary handy. Where I grew up, CNY, folks always said "jerry-rigged." I think it means the same thing.
I never heard this phrase before until today when I came across it in an article in which Middle East historian David Fromkin said he sees "a breakup of the jerry-built nation," when referring to Iraq's bleak future.