hanky-panky

noun

han·​ky-pan·​ky ˌhaŋ-kē-ˈpaŋ-kē 

1

informal : sexual activity especially when regarded as somewhat improper

We thought there was some hanky-panky going on between them.

… if there was hanky-panky in the office, it was entirely discreet …

—Jonathan Galassi

Today's Judeo-Christian culture has not shed this propensity to cheat. (If there weren't any hanky-panky, we wouldn't need the seventh commandment.)

—Daniel Engber

2

informal : questionable or underhanded activity

warned them not to try any hanky-panky

financial/political hanky-panky

Synonyms

• artifice
• chicane
• chicanery
• gamesmanship
• jiggery-pokery
• jugglery
• legerdemain
• skulduggery
• skullduggery
• subterfuge
• trickery
• wile

Examples of hanky-panky in a Sentence

had to resort to a certain amount of hanky-panky to sneak away from the house without his dog seeing him

Recent Examples on the Web

But there was no hanky-panky, and in fact the two couples had dinner together every week for two years after Dirty Dancing wrapped. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024

On my ride with Boaz and Javadi, a Waymo operator suddenly joined us on the audio system, not to inform us that hanky-panky is prohibited, but to say that two passengers did not have their seat belts fastened. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2024

Any outlier hanky-panky effort by Republicans would be enjoined by the courts based upon solid precedent. —Jerry Goldfeder, New York Daily News, 24 July 2024

No hanky-panky, no name calling, no twisting of truths, no bull. —Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024

Our inescapable conclusion is that the target of this pitch is being snowed by an acquaintance hoping to climb out of the friend zone for a bout of hanky-panky before moving on. —Tom Zoellner, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

hanky-panky

noun

han·​ky-pan·​ky

ˌhaŋ-kē-ˈpaŋ-kē

informal

: questionable or sneaky activity : trickery