jabroer, noun

/ˈjɑːbruːr//ˈjɑːbrʊə/
Forms:
Also ja-broer.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, see ja and broer.
Especially in politics: one who goes along with the views and decisions of those in authority, either not forming or not acting upon independent opinions; a ‘yes-man’. Also attributive. See also mbongo sense 2.
1934 Cape Argus 29 May (Swart)Surely the taxpayers do not pay their representatives just to be so many ‘ja-broers’, I trust that the men elected will give value for the pay they receive.
1939 Outspan 26 May 53Here he was, bothered by authority and compelled to submit to law and convention just like any ordinary jabroer of the laager.
1940 F.B. Young City of Gold 445Paul Kruger was sitting in his accustomed place on the stoep, surrounded by a group of men whom Adrian had called Ja-broers.
1940 F.B. Young City of Gold 478He sat down heavily, amid long-continued applause. The Ja-broers had got their cue, and two of them..excitedly challenged the genuineness of the Memorial’s signatures.
1950 Van der Byl in Hansard 31 May 7693It must be a very poor party if the Ministers won’t even explain to their caucus what the Bill contained. If that is the way that hon. members opposite are prepared to be treated and are merely ‘ja-broers’ then I am extremely sorry for them.
1973 Weekend Post 24 Mar. 10The conformist atmosphere of the Afrikaans universities and the ja-broer attitude of the Afrikaner Studentebond.
1984 Daily Dispatch 21 June 3When the PFP trooped across the floor to vote with government members, the Conservative Party jeered at them for being ‘ja-broers’.
1988 ‘K. De Boer’ in Frontline May 38Ja-broers of the Party and the Regering.
one who goes along with the views and decisions of those in authority, either not forming or not acting upon independent opinions; a ‘yes-man’. Also attributive.
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Afrikaans
ja baas, adjectival phraseadj. phr. & noun phrasen. phr.jabula, nounn.
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