jiggery-pokery

[ jig-uh-ree-poh-kuh-ree ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. trickery, hocus-pocus; fraud; humbug.
2. sly, underhanded action.
3. manipulation:

   After a little jiggery-pokery, the engine started.

jiggery-pokery

/ ˈdʒɪɡərɪˈpəʊkərɪ /

noun

1. informal.
   dishonest or deceitful behaviour or business; trickery

Word History and Origins

Origin of jiggery-pokery¹

1890–95; alteration of joukery-pawkery. See jouk, pawky, -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of jiggery-pokery¹

C19: from Scottish dialect joukery-pawkery