
Jump the shark
Origin Story
Understand that 'jump the shark' comes from a TV show episode where a character did a ridiculous stunt signifying the show's decline.
The phrase 'jump the shark' is from when Fonzie water-skied over a shark on 'Happy Days'.
Cultural Use
'Jump the shark' is often used in entertainment contexts, such as TV, movies, or books, to mark a quality downturn.
Critics said the film series 'jumped the shark' with the fourth sequel.
Idiomatic Flexibility
The phrase can be modified to fit different forms, like 'jumping the shark' or 'has jumped the shark'.
The ongoing TV show is jumping the shark this season.