hanky-panky

or han·key-pan·key

[ hang-kee-pang-kee ]

/ ˈhæŋ kiˈpæŋ ki /

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See synonyms for hanky-panky on Thesaurus.com

noun Informal.

unethical behavior; deceit: When the bank teller bought an expensive car and house, they suspected there might be some hanky-panky going on.

illicit sexual relations.

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Also han·ky pank .

Origin of hanky-panky

1835–45; rhyming compound; compare initial h, p of higgledy-piggledy, hocus-pocus, hodgepodge, etc.

Words nearby hanky-panky

hankering, Hankou, Hankow, Hanks, hanky, hanky-panky, Hanna, Hannah, Hannibal, Hanno, Hannover

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hanky-panky in a sentence

Meanwhile, What Kind of Hanky-Panky Is Going on Over at the Department of Health and Human Services?
Up to a Point: PJ on Sochi Stray Dog Stew and 1-800-F*CKYOU|P. J. O’Rourke|February 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those who are fasting must abstain from eating, drinking (even water), smoking, and hanky-panky of any sorts.
First Friday of Ramadan For Palestinians|Maysoon Zayid|July 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Clarkson wears four-inch Gucci sandals, a chic, black, off-the-rack Italian dress and red Hanky Panky underwear (so she says).
Lingerie of Arabia|Rebecca Dana|November 3, 2009|DAILY BEAST
I knew from other reading that no firm had been more deeply involved in pre-1929 financial hanky-panky than it had.
Goldman's Crisis Control|Michael Thomas|July 21, 2009|DAILY BEAST

I remember being shocked not by the explicit carnality but by the confusion and hanky-panky, and the unhappiness.
My Conversation with John Updike|Barbara Probst Solomon|January 29, 2009|DAILY BEAST
These scientists have worked miracles before which those of the ancient priests and magicians are mere tricks of hanky-panky.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
I brought a hanky Im hemstitching for Mother in school and worked on it a little while in between lunch and class.
Betty Lee, Freshman|David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
If you play any hanky-panky tricks—look here, Da Souza, I'll kill you, sure!
A Millionaire of Yesterday|E. Phillips Oppenheim
Some hanky-panky with regimental money; every one knows how India plays the devil with a man's sense of right and wrong.
Alone|Norman Douglas
My head had been sewn up, also my lip, and a nice tight bandage replaced the hanky.
Fanny Goes to War|Pat Beauchamp

British Dictionary definitions for hanky-panky

hanky-panky

/ (ˈhæŋkɪˈpæŋkɪ) /

noun informal

dubious or suspicious behaviour

foolish behaviour or talk

illicit sexual relations

Word Origin for hanky-panky

C19: variant of hocus-pocus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hanky-panky

or han·key-pan·key

Origin of hanky-panky

Words nearby hanky-panky

Words related to hanky-panky

How to use hanky-panky in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hanky-panky

Word Origin for hanky-panky