hanky-panky

[hang-kee-pang-kee] /ˈhæŋ kiˈpæŋ ki/
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.
Also, hankey-pankey, hanky pank.
Origin
1835-45; rhyming compound; compare initial h, p of higgledy-piggledy, hocus-pocus, hodgepodge, etc.
British Dictionary definitions for hanky-panky

hanky-panky

/ˈhæŋkɪˈpæŋkɪ/
noun (informal)
1.
dubious or suspicious behaviour
2.
foolish behaviour or talk
3.
illicit sexual relations
Word Origin
C19: variant of hocus-pocus
Word Origin and History for hanky-panky
n.

also hanky panky, 1841, "trickery," British slang, possibly a variant of hoky-poky "deception, fraud," altered from hocus-pocus.

Slang definitions & phrases for hanky-panky

hanky-panky

noun

Anything dishonest, deceptive, or unethical; esp, in recent use, sexual infidelity; monkey business: She seems just to be along for some hanky-panky with her pal, General Von Griem/ can be an assurance against clandestine wrongdoing and political hanky-panky (1841+)