Jerry-build – To build cheaply and flimsily

To remember the definition of the word jerry-build, use the following mnemonic:

Tom and Jerry decided to build (jerry-build) a house. It was rubbish - cheap and flimsy.

Examples of jerry-build in a sentence

The house was a bit of a jerry-build, but it was all she could afford.

These cowboy builders are responsible, they only know how to jerry-build houses.

The earthquake revealed which of the houses were a jerry-build and which had been constructed correctly.