noun

shenanigans

shə-NAN-ig-ənz

Shenanigans (noun) means Mischievous or high-spirited behaviour; playful goings-on. Example: “Nobody got hurt, but there were some shenanigans in the hotel corridor at 3am.”

noun

informal Mischievous or high-spirited behaviour; playful goings-on.

"Nobody got hurt, but there were some shenanigans in the hotel corridor at 3am."

"The stag do was three days of shenanigans."

informal Dishonest or underhand dealing; trickery meant to gain an unfair advantage.

"Auditors uncovered accounting shenanigans stretching back four years."

"There'll be no shenanigans with the ballot boxes on my watch."

How to Use Shenanigans

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPlayful mischief, or sneaky dishonest behaviour.

When to use it

Informal, faintly humorous; common in journalism as a wry euphemism for wrongdoing.

Memory tip

The word's origin is genuinely unknown; be sceptical of confident claims that it comes from Irish.

Easily confused with

hijinks → skulduggery antics

Common pairings

up to shenanigans no shenanigans financial shenanigans legal shenanigans

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Nobody got hurt, but there were some _____ in the hotel corridor at 3am.

Synonyms

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mischief antics hijinks tomfoolery capers skulduggery chicanery trickery funny business malfeasance

Related Words

prank deception folly mischief deceit commotion treachery indulgence

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shenanigans always plural?

Nearly always. The singular shenanigan exists and is occasionally used for one incident, but the plural is the normal form and takes a plural verb: shenanigans were afoot.

Is shenanigans a rude word?

No. It is informal and slightly comic, and it can soften a serious accusation, which is why journalists reach for it when describing fraud they cannot yet prove. It is safe in almost any company.

What is the difference between shenanigans and hijinks?

Hijinks is purely playful, high-spirited fun. Shenanigans covers that too but can also mean deliberate dishonesty, so context decides whether you are describing a prank or a scam.

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prank deception folly mischief deceit commotion treachery indulgence