Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sports implement: A piece of equipment, typically consisting of a handle and a round or oval frame with a network of strings, used to hit a ball or shuttlecock in games like tennis, badminton, or squash.
   • A loud, unpleasant noise: A loud and disturbing sound, often chaotic or unpleasant to hear.
   • A dishonest or illegal scheme: An illegal or fraudulent business or activity, often run for profit, such as extortion or a protection scam.

2. Verb:

   • To hit with a racket: To strike a ball or shuttlecock using a racket.
   • To make loud noise: To create a loud, often annoying, disturbance.
   • To celebrate boisterously: To engage in loud, lively, and often drunken festivities.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She bought a new tennis racket for the tournament.
  • The construction work outside is making an awful racket.
  • The police finally shut down the illegal gambling racket.

• Verb:

  • He expertly racketed the ball over the net.
  • The children were racketing in the hallway all morning.
  • After the final exam, the students racketed all night long.

Advanced Usage

• "To make/raise/kick up a racket": To create a loud noise or commotion, often in protest or celebration.

  • The fans kicked up a racket when their team scored the winning goal.

• "To stand the racket": To endure a difficult or challenging situation, often involving noise, pressure, or consequences.

  • It was a tough investigation, but he managed to stand the racket.

• "To be in on a racket": To be involved in a dishonest or illegal scheme.

  • He was suspected of being in on the smuggling racket.

Variants and Related Words

• Racketeer (n): A person who engages in illegal business activities or scams.

  • The notorious racketeer was finally sent to prison.

• Racketeering (n): The act of engaging in illegal business activities.

  • He was charged with racketeering and fraud.

Synonyms

• Noun (noise): Din, clamor, uproar, cacophony.
• Noun (scheme): Scam, swindle, fraud, dodge.
• Verb (celebrate): Revel, carouse, make merry, whoop it up.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Racket about/around: To move around noisily or boisterously.
  • The kids were racketing about upstairs, so I couldn't concentrate.

Related Idioms

• A racket to end all rackets: An exceptionally large, successful, or notorious illegal scheme.

  • The drug operation was described as a racket to end all rackets.

• What's the racket?: (Informal) What is all this noise about? What is happening?

  • I heard shouting outside. What's the racket?

Noun

1. a sports implement (usually consisting of a handle and an oval frame with a tightly interlaced network of strings) used to strike a ball (or shuttlecock) in various games
2. the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience
   • modern music is just noise to me
3. an illegal enterprise (such as extortion or fraud or drug peddling or prostitution) carried on for profit
4. a loud and disturbing noise

Verb

1. hit (a ball) with a racket
2. make loud and annoying noises
3. celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities
   • The members of the wedding party made merry all night
   • Let's whoop it up--the boss is gone!