jiggery-pokery
/'dʤigəri'poukəri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Deceitful or dishonest behavior, trickery: "Jiggery-pokery" refers to underhanded, cunning, or deceptive manipulation, often intended to cheat or swindle someone. It implies secretive or dishonest scheming.
Usage
"Jiggery-pokery" is a humorous or informal term, often used to describe actions perceived as sneaky, fraudulent, or involving clever trickery. It is typically used in a disapproving or accusatory tone to highlight the dishonesty of a scheme or action.
Examples
- The contract was full of legal jiggery-pokery designed to confuse customers.
- The politician accused his opponents of electoral jiggery-pokery.
- I suspect there's some financial jiggery-pokery behind these accounts.
Advanced Usage
- "Sheer jiggery-pokery": This phrase emphasizes that something is nothing but trickery or deception.
- The magician's act wasn't real magic; it was sheer jiggery-pokery.
Variants and Related Words
- Hanky-panky (noun): Mischievous or suspicious activity, often of a sexual or dishonest nature. It is a close synonym but can have a slightly broader or less formal connotation.
- There was some hanky-panky going on with the company funds.
Synonyms
- Skulduggery: Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior; deception.
- Chicanery: The use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose.
- Trickery: The practice of deception.
Idioms and Phrases
While "jiggery-pokery" itself is often used as a standalone noun, it can be part of descriptive phrases accusing someone of deceit. - "Up to some jiggery-pokery": Engaged in suspicious or dishonest activity. - I think the salesperson is up to some jiggery-pokery with those prices.
Noun
- verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way