high jinks

or hi·jinks

[ hahy-jingks ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. boisterous celebration or merrymaking; unrestrained fun:

   The city is full of conventioneers indulging in their usual high jinks.

   Synonyms: horseplay

high jinks

/ ˈhaɪˌdʒɪŋks /

noun

1. lively enjoyment

Word History and Origins

Origin of high jinks¹

First recorded in 1760–70; jink

Idioms and Phrases

Playful or rowdy activity, often involving mischievous pranks. For example, All sorts of high jinks go on at summer camp after “lights out.” About 1700 this term denoted a gambling game accompanied by much drinking, but by the mid-1800s it acquired its present meaning.

Example Sentences

The audience at the Saturday matinee audience I attended was filled with young people who seemed delighted by the rambunctious high jinks.

From Los Angeles Times

It makes for a strange tone throughout the film, that the congregation is so horrified by kids who are clearly hungry and fending for themselves, so it’s hard to laugh at their high jinks.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet the comic high jinks, star-crossed lovers and long-lost relatives that pop up in his play “The Miser,” first produced in 1668, will be instantly familiar to anybody who has ever seen a Shakespeare comedy.

From New York Times

“Ain’t Got No Home,” which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, became Henry’s signature hit and definitively captured his humor and his vocal high jinks.

From Seattle Times

“Ain’t Got No Home,” which reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, became Mr. Henry’s signature hit and definitively captured his humor and his vocal high jinks.

From New York Times

Related Words

• antic
• horseplay
• prank

More About High Jinks

What does high jinks mean?

High jinks means playful, mischievous, or rowdy activity.

It is also commonly spelled hijinks. Both spellings of the word are used with a plural verb, as in My cousins’ high jinks are legendary.

High jinks usually implies a combination of fun and mischief. Activities that are called high jinks are often silly and mischievous and they may be rowdy, but they’re usually not harmful. They include things like minor pranks or the kinds of activities done during a happily unrestrained celebration. Sometimes, the term refers to a series of silly or chaotic events or interactions. This is especially the case in the phrase high jinks ensue, as in The movie is about a man who has to adopt 11 ostriches—high jinks ensue. 

However, high jinks is sometimes used in a more negative way to refer to mischief or wrongdoing that’s absurd or incompetent, as in The administration is up to its usual high jinks again—luckily they’re too inept to pull any of it off. 

Example: As a substitute teacher, I know exactly what kind of high jinks students will participate in when they think they can get away with it.

Where does high jinks come from?

The first records of the term high jinks come from right around 1700. Originally, the term referred to a kind of drinking game. The word jinks (a plural of jink) means “prankish or mischievous activities.” It may derive from a word meaning “to gasp violently,” perhaps in reference to intense laughter. The Old English word cincung, meaning “boisterous laughter,” may be related.

High jinks often refers to the kind of playful activities that end up with the participants laughing themselves silly. The word almost always implies some level of mischief or rowdiness. It is particularly associated with pranks, but usually the kind of pranks that the pranked person can also laugh at.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for high jinks?

• antics
• shenanigans
• monkey business
• mischief

What are some words that share a root or word element with high jinks? 

• jinks
• high

What are some words that often get used in discussing high jinks?

• up to
• usual
• ensue
• wacky
• silly
• prank
• horseplay
• playful
• fun
• youthful

How is high jinks used in real life?

High jinks is informal and is most commonly used in the context of lighthearted situations. It’s commonly spelled hijinks.

#Halloween is the perfect day to look back on some of our staff high jinks and #pranks, and there have been quite a few! Do you remember when we plastic wrapped our Head of Education Brian Cofrancesco's desk? He sure does! #CTOldStateHouse pic.twitter.com/WREK8I4bTl

— Connecticut's Old State House (@CTOldStateHouse) October 31, 2019

April Fools' Day pranks: Pokemon, cats, and other high-tech high jinks (pictures) http://t.co/LLTYqoUEL2 pic.twitter.com/S5Fw0GvBsF

— CNET (@CNET) April 1, 2014

Anyone want to be in cahoots with me? Which high jinks will ensue is TBD.

— SpacedMom (@copymama) August 1, 2017

 

Try using high jinks!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of high jinks?

A. antics
B. shenanigans
C. boredom
D. mischief