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Shenanigan
she·nan·i·gan
-noun Informal.
1. Usually, shenanigans.
a. mischief; prankishness: Halloween shenanigans.
b. deceit; trickery.
2. a mischievous or deceitful trick, practice, etc.
Origin:
1850-55, Americanism; of obscure orig.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
she·nan·i·gan
n. Informal
1.
a. A deceitful trick; an underhanded act.
b. Remarks intended to deceive; deceit. Often used in the plural.
c. A playful or mischievous act; a prank.
d. Mischief; prankishness. Often used in the plural.
2.
a. A playful or mischievous act; a prank.
b. Mischief; prankishness. Often used in the plural.
[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Synonyms:
antics, capers, dirty trick, fooling around, frolicsomeness, funny business, gag, hanky-panky*, high jinks, horseplay, horsing around, misbehavior, mischievousness, monkey business*, naughtiness, nonsense, prank, trouble, vandalism
* = informal/non-formal usage
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2009 by the Philip Lief Group.
related
Main Entry: mischief
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: Annoying yet harmless, usually playful acts.
Synonyms:
devilry, deviltry, diablerie, high jinks, impishness, mischievousness, prankishness, rascality, roguery, roguishness, tomfoolery
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