Words / C1

JIST/dʒɪst/

The gist is the main point: get the gist, the gist of the argument. Summary can list the parts; gist is the core meaning you could retell in one breath. Jest is a joke — a lookalike. Do not write gist for a full paraphrase you still need in an exam answer.

Meaning

The main point or general meaning of a text or speech.

Examples

• “She caught the gist of the lecture without every date.”
• “She got the gist of the ruling from the first page and skipped the annex.”
• “Listening for gist is a skill; quoting the gist as if it were a citation is not.”

Good to know

The main point. Close: essence. Everyday: the main idea. Mix-up: jest (a joke). Not a complete paraphrase.

Near in meaning

essence

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