hanky-panky
noun
han·ky-pan·ky
ˌhaŋ-kē-ˈpaŋ-kē 
1
informal
: sexual activity especially when regarded as somewhat improper
We thought there was some hanky-panky going on between them.
… if there was hanky-panky in the office, it was entirely discreet …—
Jonathan Galassi
Jonathan GalassiToday's Judeo-Christian culture has not shed this propensity to cheat. (If there weren't any hanky-panky, we wouldn't need the seventh commandment.)—Daniel Engber
Daniel Engber2
informal
: questionable or underhanded activity
warned them not to try any hanky-panky
financial/political hanky-panky
Synonyms
Examples of hanky-panky in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Our inescapable conclusion is that the target of this pitch is being snowed by an acquaintance hoping to climb out of the friend zone for a bout of hanky-panky before moving on.
—Tom Zoellner, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024
Tom Zoellner, SPIN, 21 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hanky-panky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hanky-panky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hanky-panky. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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