hanky-panky

American  

[hang-kee-pang-kee] / ˈhæŋ kiˈpæŋ ki /

Also hanky pank or hankey-pankey

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.

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hanky-panky British  

/ ˈhæŋkɪˈpæŋkɪ /

noun

1. dubious or suspicious behaviour

2. foolish behaviour or talk

3. illicit sexual relations

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Etymology

Origin of hanky-panky

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

Example Sentences

Technically, she was indicted for bank fraud relating to alleged hanky-panky on a mortgage application.

From Slate

Balanchine told Bob: “Margot nice girl. I take her to movies a couple of times — no hanky-panky! But in ‘Ballet Imperial,’ no.

From New York Times

A peek at a rehearsal of his work revealed an intensely faithful staging of the Mozart classic — of relational hijinks and hanky-panky couched in sticky melodies, sung by a cast including Janai Brugger as Susanna and Craig Colclough as Figaro, inside a very traditional set.

From Los Angeles Times

She seethed over snubbed paella, screeched about George’s hanky-panky in the parental bed and laid out the spread for screen husband Frank’s idiosyncratic holiday, Festivus.

From Seattle Times

And the margins are always well beyond any hanky-panky that went on.

From Salon