Hanky-panky definition
(informal) Questionable behavior, as shady dealings or illicit sexual activity.
noun
Illicit sexual activity.
noun
I think there was some hanky-panky with the last election.
noun
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Devious or mischievous activity.
noun
Origin of hanky-panky
- Alteration of hokey-pokey alteration of hocus-pocus
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Possibly a corruption of the Romani expression hakk'ni panki ("great trick", "big con" and hence "shady dealings").
From Wiktionary