funny business
Something seems off
Funny business is suspicious or dishonest activity, often involving deception or rule-breaking: No funny business while I'm gone.
The phrase carries a tone of warning or accusation, suggesting someone might try something improper.
It can also mean sexual misbehavior or unwanted advances: He tried some funny business and she slapped him.
Dishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
chicanery · dupery · subterfuge · ruse · bamboozle · flimflam · artifice · sleight
Deceptive or amorous mischief
- dallianceBrief, casual romance
- fooling aroundIdle playful behavior
- carrying onMaintaining activity despite obstacles
- playing aroundEngaging in idle amusement
canoodling · necking · making out · rendezvous · tryst · liaison · affair · infidelity
Mischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
- pranksPlayful mischievous acts
antics · hijinks · horseplay · clowning · messing around · fooling around · goofing off · larks
Dishonest abuse of power
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
- misappropriationWrongful taking of entrusted assets
kickbacks · money laundering · insider trading · racketeering · extortion · graft · cronyism · nepotism
Arousing doubt, colloquially
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
- sketchyIncomplete or suspicious
off · irregular · anomaly · peculiar · odd · smell a rat · under the table · behind closed doors
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
hoax · chicanery · dupery · subterfuge · ruse · bamboozle · flimflam · artifice · sleight · guile
hanky-panky
Deceptive or amorous mischief
- dallianceBrief, casual romance
- fooling aroundIdle playful behavior
- carrying onMaintaining activity despite obstacles
playing around · canoodling · necking · making out · rendezvous · tryst · liaison · affair · infidelity · two-timing
shenanigans
Mischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
pranks · antics · hijinks · horseplay · clowning · messing around · fooling around · goofing off · larks · capers
corruption
Dishonest abuse of power
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
misappropriation · kickbacks · money laundering · insider trading · racketeering · extortion · graft · cronyism · nepotism · white-collar crime
fishy
Arousing doubt, colloquially
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- shadyDisreputable or sun-blocked
sketchy · off · irregular · anomaly · peculiar · odd · smell a rat · under the table · behind closed doors · hush-hush
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
- innuendoinnuendo, sexual innuendo, double entendre, double meaning, implied meaning
- placeholdersplaceholder, bar, blank, dummy, filler
funny businessstraight dealing
Honest, transparent transactions
fair dealing · square dealing · plain dealing · transparency · honesty
funny businessdecorum
Fitting social conduct
propriety · good behavior · professionalism · formality · discipline
funny, business, businesslike, funniest, unfunny, funnier, busyness, funning, funnily