hanky-panky
8
8.6
- noun
- /ˈhæŋkiˌpæŋki/
- Slang
:
trampas
- Unfortunately, what the institute discovered was too much hanky-panky.
- a lot of hanky-panky
- a little hanky-panky
Examples
-
But this company is now under investigation in Britain for alleged hanky-panky on contracts.
-
Well, let's put it this way, there's been hanky-panky.
-
Apparently, there was some hanky-panky going on in that car.
Blog text (19) -
Of course, in a small community, there were always rumors concerning hanky-panky of various sorts.
Fiction book (1991) -
As co-chairman of the firm, surely he had knowledge of the financial hanky-panky that would prove so disastrous down the road.
Blog text (12) -
After all, she had been digging it for years; it would take more than a little hanky-panky with Larry Albeit at this point to vault herself free.
Fiction book (1995) -
"Turns out he's hit it big with a mineral prospecting business, but hit it so big that he's doing hanky-panky deals with governments the U.S. hasn't spoken to for years.
Fiction book (1992) -
If the Glorianas were engaged in hanky-panky, as I was beginning to think they were, then Irma was the Ma Barker of the gang, a very robust and attractive chieftain.
Fiction book (1992) -
Dear friend, is there hanky-panky going on in the workplace?
-
There's some kind of hanky-panky going on around here, and I know it.
Synonyms
205
8.4
Secret deal by people or companies to cheat others
187
2.1
An act of tricking someone to get an unfair advantage
66
4.6
Dishonest action meant to trick someone
46
3.2
Actions like lying, cheating, or stealing
46
5.3
An illegal, violent, or dishonest action that suggests a crime
27
4.9
To use dishonest ways to cheat people
15
2.8
An act of dishonesty that gives someone an unfair advantage
12
8.1
Dishonest behavior that hides true intentions to trick someone
12
6.0
Secret dishonest actions that harm or make someone look bad, often in politics and business
11
4.9
An unfair action meant to harm or cheat someone
9
8.1
Words or actions that trick people by seeming magical
8
9.3
Tricks people use to deceive others to get money or advantage
6
9.9
Dishonest actions that try to trick people to get something
4
5.6
Dishonest actions in business or money matters
4
9.9
A dishonest act that breaks someone's trust
3
9.9
Secret dishonest actions that trick people to get money or power
3
8.8
A way of hiding the truth by pretending to be less involved
2
7.0
Secret actions that are dishonest or unfair to get what you want
2
9.9
Dishonest actions such as lying, cheating, or stealing
1
8.7
Dishonest behaviour that aims to get money or other unfair personal gain
1
9.7
Dishonest words or actions that try to trick people
1
7.1
Dishonest behavior of pretending one thing but doing another
1
7.1
Dishonest or sneaky behaviour to get what you want
1
7.7
Clever, dishonest talk that tries to trick people
1
6.3
Dishonest behavior in business or money matters
1
6.9
Dishonest behavior by a person or group
1
6.2
A habit of being dishonest and breaking rules to get money or power
Dishonest actions that try to trick people
Actions that cheat people to get their money
A habit of ignoring right and wrong and being dishonest to get what you want
Something that seems wrong, unsafe, or not honest
Antonyms
How Dishonest
355
4.8
577
4.0
- NSFW
294
3.0
- Informal
4
5.6
- Slang
8
8.6
326
3.5
Surface Forms
Etymology
Hanky-panky comes from playful rhyming that joins hanky and panky to sound like a small trick. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine a magician hiding something under a handkerchief to trick people, so hanky-panky means 'dishonest or suspicious activity'.