Definition

Noun: - Noisy and mischievous merrymaking: "Jinks" refers to lively, boisterous, and often playful fun or revelry that is characterized by noise and high spirits.

Usage

• "Jinks" is a plural noun, typically used in the fixed phrase "high jinks" (or "hijinks"). It describes playful, chaotic, and exuberant activities, often involving tricks or pranks.
• It is used to depict scenes of loud, energetic fun, usually among a group of people.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "High jinks": This is the most common collocation. It emphasizes particularly wild, frolicsome, or uproarious merrymaking.
  • The festival was known for its high jinks and street parties.
  • The movie is a comedy about the high jinks of a group of friends on a road trip.

Variants and Related Words

• Hijinks (noun): An alternative, common spelling of "high jinks," with the same meaning.
  • The hijinks at the summer camp are legendary.
• Revelry (noun): Lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking and dancing. (A close synonym, but less specific to mischief.)
• Shenanigans (noun): Secret or dishonest activity, or more commonly, silly or high-spirited behavior. (A very close synonym in its informal sense.)

Synonyms

• Frolics: Playful and lively behavior.
• Pranks: Practical jokes or mischievous acts.
• Tomfoolery: Foolish or silly behavior.
• Skylarking: Lively, playful fun or mischief.

Notes

• The word "jinks" is rarely used alone in modern English. It is almost exclusively found in the compound form "high jinks." When explaining the word, it is most accurate to present it within this common phrase.

Noun

1. noisy and mischievous merrymaking