hanky-panky

A magician performs hanky-panky with a deck of cards.

Definition

Noun (uncountable) 1. Deceptive or dishonest behaviour: "hanky-panky" refers to trickery, fraud, or underhanded activity intended to deceive or cheat someone. - The accountant was fired for financial hanky-panky. (Dishonest manipulation of accounts.) 2. Sexual activity (informal, humorous): "hanky-panky" can also refer to illicit or playful sexual behaviour, often used euphemistically. - The couple were caught in some hanky-panky behind the shed. (Engaging in secretive or improper physical intimacy.)

Usage Examples

• Deceptive behaviour:

  • The politician denied any hanky-panky in the election campaign. (Denied any dishonest tricks or fraud.)
  • There was some hanky-panky with the company's books. (Dishonest manipulation of financial records.)

• Sexual activity:

  • The parents warned their teenage son to avoid any hanky-panky on the school trip. (To avoid any improper sexual behaviour.)
  • The movie hinted at hanky-panky between the two main characters. (Suggested a secret romantic or physical relationship.)

Advanced Usage

• "to get up to hanky-panky": to engage in dishonest or improper activities.

  • The kids were up to some hanky-panky with the fireworks. (They were using them in a sneaky or dangerous way.)

• "hanky-panky with the rules": to bend or break rules in a dishonest manner.

  • The referee accused the player of hanky-panky with the game regulations. (Of cheating or violating rules.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hanky-panky (noun form only; no common variants). Related:
  • Monkey business (n): silly or dishonest behaviour (similar in tone).
  • Shenanigans (n): playful or mischievous activity; also used for dishonest tricks.

Synonyms

• Trickery: the use of deception to achieve a goal.
• Skulduggery: dishonest or unscrupulous behaviour.
• Fooling around (for sexual meaning): engaging in casual or improper physical intimacy.
• Mischief: playful behaviour that causes minor trouble.

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly derived from "hanky-panky"; however, related phrasal verbs may describe the actions:
  • Mess around: to engage in playful or dishonest behaviour.

    • Stop messing around with the accounts! (Stop being dishonest with the finances.)
  • Fool around (sexual meaning): to engage in casual sexual activity.

    • They were caught fooling around in the library. (Engaging in improper physical intimacy.)

Related Idioms

• "Monkey business": silly, dishonest, or mischievous behaviour.
  • I don't want any monkey business in this classroom. (No tricks or misbehaviour.)
• "Carry on": to behave in a foolish, dishonest, or sexually improper way.
  • They were carrying on in the back of the car. (Engaging in hanky-panky.)