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Hanky-panky definition

hăngkē-păngkē
(informal) Questionable behavior, as shady dealings or illicit sexual activity.
noun
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Illicit sexual activity.
noun
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I think there was some hanky-panky with the last election.

noun
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Sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, especially if illicit.
noun
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A debaucherous act; a sexual act that is considered inappropriate.
noun
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Alternative spelling of hanky-panky.
noun
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Devious or mischievous activity.
noun
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1

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

Hanky-panky Sentence Examples

  • No hanky-panky, you know.

  • When bold-face names aren't involved, hanky-panky appears to have little impact.

  • Fig Leaves has another half-slip from Hanky Panky.

More sentences

Words near hanky-panky in the Dictionary