hanky-panky

or han·key-pan·key

[ hang-kee-pang-kee ]

noun

, Informal.

1. unethical behavior; deceit:

   When the bank teller bought an expensive car and house, they suspected there might be some hanky-panky going on.

2. illicit sexual relations.

hanky-panky

/ ˈhæŋkɪˈpæŋkɪ /

noun

1. dubious or suspicious behaviour
2. foolish behaviour or talk
3. illicit sexual relations

Word History and Origins

Origin of hanky-panky¹

1835–45; rhyming compound; compare initial h, p of higgledy-piggledy, hocus-pocus, hodgepodge ( def ), etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hanky-panky¹

C19: variant of hocus-pocus

Example Sentences

"What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and within minutes you're playing hanky-panky in a dressing room?"

From Salon

There is a lot of hanky-panky going on among the main characters — the ship is filled with extras who have no influence on the story — and a little romance and a lot of relationship issues, which means you do not have to wait long for a sex scene.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking back to 2016, it is painful to see how the press piled on Hilary's emails and The Clinton Foundation, while giving Trump a pass on the totally fraudulently Trump Foundation and hanky-panky with the Russians.

From Salon

According to scientists, their size is the result of historical, and possibly ongoing, interspecies hanky-panky.

From New York Times

Balanchine told Bob: “Margot nice girl. I take her to movies a couple of times — no hanky-panky! But in ‘Ballet Imperial,’ no.

From New York Times