shenanigans

singular shenanigan

1. pluralplural normallyMischievous play, especially by children.First known use mid 19th c.

   Shanti and Tom are playing noisily upstairs again. They’re up to their usual shenanigans.

   1 more example

   Well, I'm not the woman to stand any shenanigans from a child of mine. I could name you dead loads of women that are just completely walked over by their children.

   1890, Kate Chopin, “Perplexing Things”, in At Fault. A Novel, St. Louis, Mo.: Nixon-Jones Printing Co., →OCLC, page 159

   Synonyms: high jinks, hijinks

2. pluralplural normallyDeceitful tricks; trickery; games.First known use mid 19th c.

   You should learn to spot their shenanigans and avoid being fooled.

   5 more examples

   The advertisement said it would cost $50, but they charged me $75 at the register. I declare shenanigans.

   One of Professor [John] Moon's most astonishing "experiments," consisted of holding a watch suspended from a short chain at arm's length, and allowing anyone in the pit to pull pistol and "blaze away" at the word "fire," whereupon the watch would most unconscionably disappear. An individual who had attended several evenings and witnessed the "experiment," suspected, in the classic language of the times, that there was something of "shenanigan" in it.

   1855 September, “Mr. Soap’s Yachting Excursion”, in Yankee Notions, volume IV, number 9, New York, N.Y.: Published by T. W. Strong, 98 Nassau-st., →OCLC, page 280

   There are stories still told how money was used and promised, but from the best knowledge I can acquire, I think this is not true. If sharp practice was played, and "shenanigan" was used, we, to-day, looking back upon those times, cannot say that evil has come of it.

   [1877], Cha[rle]s H. Sparks, “Political History”, in History of Winneshiek County, with Biographical Sketches of Its Eminent Men, Decorah, Iowa: Jas. Alex. Leonard, →OCLC, page 31

   And you remember that she is a pal of ours, and you're to act like a gentleman, no shenanigans, or I'll skin you alive!

   1921, William M. McCoy, “At the Shrine of Faith”, in The Valley of the Sun, New York, N.Y.: A. L. Burt Company; published by arrangement with The H. K. Fly Company, →OCLC, pages 77–78

   On the table top behind him lay the letter from the Vatican. It was what he had dreaded. Shenanigans like that don't go for long unnoticed. Canon Tom may have provided the Church with a touch of class, but when the chips were down, he was expendable.

   1993, Edward Toman, chapter 9, in Shambles Corner, London: Flamingo, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 125

   Synonyms: dirty tricks, hornswoggling, skulduggery

3. pluralplural normallyStrange, unusual, weird, or wacky occurrences.

   "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to devote any of tonight's news to evil monkey shenanigans unless you can find something more down to earth to focus your report on."

   2009 January 20, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009

4. pluralplural normallyplural of shenanigan.

1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of shenanigan