shenanigans

noun

1. (plural, plural-normally)Mischievous play, especially by children.

   “Shanti and Tom are playing noisily upstairs again. They’re up to their usual shenanigans.”

   “Well, I'm not the woman to stand any shenanigans from a child of mine. I could name you dead loads of women that are just completely walked over by their children.”

2. (plural, plural-normally)Deceitful tricks; trickery; games.

   “You should learn to spot their shenanigans and avoid being fooled.”

   “The advertisement said it would cost $50, but they charged me $75 at the register. I declare shenanigans.”

   “One of Professor [John] Moon's most astonishing "experiments," consisted of holding a watch suspended from a short chain at arm's length, and allowing anyone in the pit to pull pistol and "blaze away" at the word "fire," whereupon the watch would most unconscionably disappear. An individual who had attended several evenings and witnessed the "experiment," suspected, in the classic language of the times, that there was something of "shenanigan" in it.”

   “There are stories still told how money was used and promised, but from the best knowledge I can acquire, I think this is not true. If sharp practice was played, and "shenanigan" was used, we, to-day, looking back upon those times, cannot say that evil has come of it.”

   “And you remember that she is a pal of ours, and you're to act like a gentleman, no shenanigans, or I'll skin you alive!”

3. (plural, plural-normally)Strange, unusual, weird, or wacky occurrences.

   “"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to devote any of tonight's news to evil monkey shenanigans unless you can find something more down to earth to focus your report on."”

4. (form-of, plural, plural-normally)plural of shenanigan.

verb

1. (form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person)third-person singular simple present indicative of shenanigan