Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) to cause trouble, to put someone or oneself in a difficult position.

1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 283: The vessel will jam him up tight for repairs and new riggin.
1933		‘Goat’ Laven Rough Stuff 96: I wanted to get my time in and get out if possible without jamming myself up.
1949		N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 322: I wanted to jam him up — but I didn’ want to jam him so he couldn’t get out.
1953		J. Thompson Alcoholics (1993) 45: Next to diddling a woman patient, there wasn’t a surer way for a doctor to jam himself up than to play around with his nurse.
1972		Hall & Adelman Gentleman of Leisure 19: This is the hardest profession to do well in and I’d hate to see you jam up in the middle and have to start all over again.
1988		D. Woodrell Muscle for the Wing 178: No one said you are jammed up.
2006		D. Winslow Winter of Frankie Machine (2007) 101: Then the Detroit guys found out. They jammed me up, said they were going to take it to you unless..
2010		(con. 1973) C. Stella Johnny Porno 105: The guy interviewed me said he heard I got jammed up.
2019		D. Winslow Border [ebook] ‘Isn’t this going to jam you up with Junior?’.

2. (US und.) to arrest.

1927		C. Coe Me – Gangster 50: That guy would know us if we ever git jammed up over this.
2019		S.M. Jones Lives Laid Away [ebook] ‘Ain’t this some fucked-up shit? Brotha can’t even get a taco in this town without gettin’ jammed up!’.
2021		S.A. Crosby Razorblade Tears 105: He was looking to jam him up about the kid they’d turned into fertilizer.

3. (also jam) to discipline.

1991

D. Simon Homicide (1993) 331: I’d hate to see a good detective like Worden get jammed up over this [...] thing [...] Why would Worden get jammed, Captain?

4. (US prison) to confront, to question.

1992		Bentley & Corbett Prison Sl. 93: Jam Up also Jammed Up and Jam Him Up To confront someone about a certain issue.
2000		Other Side of the Wall: Prisoner’s Dict. July 🌐 Jam Up: Ask a prisoner about something.