Shenanigans

/ʃəˈnænɪɡənz/ noun

Definition

Playful or mischievous tricks and pranks, often involving deception but usually harmless and funny rather than truly mean.

Etymology

Origin uncertain, possibly from Irish 'sionnachuighim' (I play tricks), or Gaelic 'sean' (old) plus 'onegin' (fox-like behavior), suggesting clever, tricky behavior.

Kelly Says

Nobody is completely sure where 'shenanigans' comes from, which is delightfully fitting for a word that means playful trickery—it's like the word itself is playing a trick on people trying to trace its origin!

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