hanky-panky

See also: hanky panky

English

Alternative forms

• hanky panky

Etymology

Possibly a corruption of the Romani expression hakk'ni panki ("great trick", "big con" and hence "shady dealings").

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌhæŋkɪˈpæŋki/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

hanky-panky (uncountable)

1. Mischievous behaviour, dishonest or shady activity.

   I think there was some hanky-panky with the last election.

   • 1984 April 21, Sue Hyde, “Got Those Intervention Blues, Friend?”, in Gay Community News, page 2:

     Are you sickened by the idea of more and more CIA hankypanky in Central America?

2. Amorous behaviour, smooching, making out, necking, sex or other sexual activity, especially if illicit.

   Synonyms: roll in the hay; see also Thesaurus:copulation

   • 1990, “Hanky Panky”, in I'm Breathless, performed by Madonna:

     I don't wanna cry / I just wanna hanky panky / Nothing like a good spanky

   • 1997, “Barbie Girl”, in Aquarium, performed by Aqua:

     You're my doll, rock and roll, feel the glamor in pink / Kiss me here, touch me there, hanky-panky

3. A debaucherous act; a sexual act that is considered inappropriate.

Translations

mischievous behaviour, dishonest or shady activity

• Bulgarian: шмекерия (bg) f (šmekerija)
• German: fauler (de) Zauber (de) m, Schwindel (de) m, Hokuspokus (de) m, Mauschelei f, Mauscheleien pl or f, Trick (de) m, Tricks (de) pl or m, Taschenspielertrick (de) m, Taschenspielertricks (de) pl or m

amorous behaviour, smooching, making out, necking, sexual intercourse or other sexual activity

• Bulgarian: задявка (bg) f (zadjavka)
• French: galipettes (fr) f pl
• German: Techtelmechtel (de) n, Knutscherei f, Gefummel n, Fummeln n
• Russian: шуры-муры (ru) pl (šury-mury)
• Swedish: rajtan tajtan (sv) n

a debaucherous act; a sexual act that is considered inappropriate

• German: Ausschweifung (de) f, Sittenlosigkeit f