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View synonyms for hanky-panky

hanky-panky

or han·key-pan·key

[ hang-kee-pang-kee ]

noun

, Informal.
  1. unethical behavior; deceit:

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

  2. illicit sexual relations.


hanky-panky

/ ˈhæŋkɪˈpæŋkɪ /

noun

  1. dubious or suspicious behaviour
  2. foolish behaviour or talk
  3. illicit sexual relations
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of hanky-panky1

1835–45; rhyming compound; compare initial h, p of higgledy-piggledy, hocus-pocus, hodgepodge ( def ), etc.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hanky-panky1

C19: variant of hocus-pocus
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Example Sentences

Meanwhile, What Kind of Hanky-Panky Is Going on Over at the Department of Health and Human Services?

Those who are fasting must abstain from eating, drinking (even water), smoking, and hanky-panky of any sorts.

Clarkson wears four-inch Gucci sandals, a chic, black, off-the-rack Italian dress and red Hanky Panky underwear (so she says).

I knew from other reading that no firm had been more deeply involved in pre-1929 financial hanky-panky than it had.

I remember being shocked not by the explicit carnality but by the confusion and hanky-panky, and the unhappiness.

These scientists have worked miracles before which those of the ancient priests and magicians are mere tricks of hanky-panky.

If you play any hanky-panky tricks—look here, Da Souza, I'll kill you, sure!

Some hanky-panky with regimental money; every one knows how India plays the devil with a man's sense of right and wrong.

I'll put up with no hanky-panky work from Mrs. Cummers Portheris, my dear—and well she knows it!'

He had no idea I wasn't interested in his other hanky-panky, but could tell I had had a low blow.

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