jiggery-pokery

noun

jig·​gery-pok·​ery ˈji-gər-ē-ˈpō-kər-ē 

: underhanded manipulation or dealings : trickery

Synonyms

• artifice
• chicane
• chicanery
• gamesmanship
• hanky-panky
• jugglery
• legerdemain
• skulduggery
• skullduggery
• subterfuge
• trickery
• wile

Examples of jiggery-pokery in a Sentence

the judge ordered the corporation to hand over all records, with no jiggery-pokery about unexpected problems and missing information

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of Scots joukery-pawkery, from jouk to dodge, cheat + pawk trick, wile

First Known Use

circa 1892, in the meaning defined above