hanky-pank

plural hanky-panks

1. countableuncountableSynonym of hanky-panky.

   After two years of hanky pank she got the mumps.

   2000, Mitchell Rosnov, Black Magic, →ISBN, page 108

   3 more examples

   He was interested at once, and also at once made proclamation that all such performances were "hanky-pank," and that he could duplicate any of them.

   1920, William Dunseath Eaton, Spirit Life: Or, Do We Die?, page 264

   In specific explanation of Kaplan's wire of 10:30, Long testified that Kaplan returned his call shortly before 10:30 and that, after reviewing the developments beginning with Babcock's wire to Kaplan the previous afternoon, he and Kaplan concluded that there was some “hanky-pank going on” looking toward “instigat[ion of] a suit,” and that because of these “fears, ' Attorney Kaplan, without either of them knowing that Babcock had canceled Robertson's contract, sent Babcock the previously quoted wire concerning the Union's purpose in picketing.

   1972, Decisions and Orders of the National Labor Relations Board

   Defendant attempted through cross-examination of Rossman and prosecutrix to discover the activities in the Rossman vehicle prior to prosecutrix leaving that vehicle. Defendant was not permitted to ask Rossman whether any “hanky-pank” had gone on in the Rossman vehicle.

   1973, North western reporter. Second series. N.W. 2d. Cases argued and determined in the courts of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

   Synonyms: hanky-panky

2. countableslanguncountableA carnival game which guarantees a winner.

   Not everything was a flattie. "This here 'Fish the Bottle' is hanky-pank," Tommy noted, which in the carney's twisted lingo meant it was honest.

   2008, Darryl Wimberley, Kaleidoscope, page 96

   3 more examples

   That means if you book a couple of games of hanky pank, I'll allow you to book an alibi with them so if the kids win something we will rip off dad, that seems fair.

   1981, California Legislature. Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification, Meeting, California State Legislature, Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification

   The carny's goal is to get you to keep playing the game, and plunking down cash, until you get enough credits to trade up to a better prize. For this reason, hanky-panks are commonly referred to as trade-ups. The classic hanky-pank is Duck Pond (sometimes played as Fish Pond).

   2003, Bret Witter, Carnival Undercover, page 88

   They had closed up their hanky-panks, grab-joints, pitch-and-dunks, pokerino parlours, had turned off the lights and killed the music and folded up the gaudy glamour.

   2012, Dean Koontz, Twilight Eyes, →ISBN

3. countableuncountableA nonce word.

   Look here," said Jones ; " I don't want to be rude, but none of your hanky-pank."

   1911, The Motor Car Journal - Volume 13, page 613

   2 more examples

   ... him that that was none of his dad-blamed hanky-pank business, although I ached to tell him that and several other things.

   1906, The Postal Record - Volume 19, page 210

   “What's Chub trying to invent now?” queried Bob, as he and Susie started around the house on the trail of Perkins. “I think it's smokeless powder,” replied Susie. “Great hanky-pank!” gasped Bob.

   1909 -, Donald Grayson -, Bob Steele's Motor Cycle: Or, True to His Friends, page 13

present singular third person hanky-panks · participle present hanky-panking · participle past hanky-panked · past hanky-panked

1. To engage in hanky-panky.

   Professors don't hanky-pank students.

   2005, Marc Estrin, The Education of Arnold Hitler, page 251

   3 more examples

   He knew why he was so deeply angry: this situation had corrupted a fine young engineer, had lost him to the profession, while he, Drew, had hanky-panked with the enemy in the deluded belief that the conflict was not real.

   1970, Borden Deal -, Interstate, page 362

   A man who hated communism and never "hanky-panked" with his secretary despite her "God- given beauty."

   1990 -, Ellen Goodman, Making Sense, →ISBN, page 41

   A person in innocent until proven guilty, if you hanky-panked 20 years ago with an office-staff member, or even tried to and was rejected , you are part, of an unusual group of phylum humn being.

   1995, United States Congress Senate Select Committee on Ethics, Documents Related to the Investigation of Senator Robert Packwood