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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.

See Examples For:

But for the last 20 years, Alfred Robles has applied a different level of work ethic to funny business.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

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

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2025

In a joint interview with Harper's Bazar in 2019 the two claimed that there was “no funny business at all” during filming.

From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2024

“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

“What exactly do you mean by funny business, Coach?”

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

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