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Synonyms

funny business

American  

noun

Informal.

  1. improper or unethical conduct, as deception or trickery.

    He won't stand for any funny business here.
funny business Idioms  

  1. Deceit, treachery, unethical conduct. For example, We suspect their outfit has been up to some funny business. [Colloquial; c. 1880]

Etymology

Origin of funny business

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hmm, any other funny business out there worth looking into …?

From Slate • Sep. 20, 2025

Wendy Liebman is a veteran of the funny business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2024

But let's not have any more funny business.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2023

“As long as nobody does any funny business — you’ve got to watch it till the very end.”

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

No funny business and I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.