hanky-panky
Illicit fooling around
Hanky-panky is mildly mischievous or deceitful behavior, often with sexual overtones.
It can mean illicit romantic activity: I suspect there's some hanky-panky going on between those two.
It also covers trickery or underhanded dealings: financial hanky-panky, political hanky-panky.
The word is playful and old-fashioned, softening what might otherwise sound like an accusation.
Deliberate deception or fraud
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
scheming · guile · fraud · swindle · scam · con · sham · manipulation
Foolish or silly behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
- pranksPlayful mischievous acts
roguery · impishness · naughtiness · hijinks · fooling around · horseplay · capers · monkey business
Idle playful behavior
- messing aroundIdle, aimless activity
- nookieSlang for intercourse
- canoodlingAmorous physical affection
- dallianceBrief, casual romance
tryst · fling · affair · rendezvous · liaison · quickie · romp · fornication
Playful amorous behavior
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- flirtingPlayfully showing romantic interest
- dallianceBrief, casual romance
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
canoodling · billing and cooing · making eyes · come-on · innuendo · playing footsie · smooching · necking
Unlawful act by officeholder
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- irregularityDeparture from standard
fraud · bribery · collusion · embezzlement · graft · cronyism · nepotism · kickbacks
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
deceit · scheming · guile · fraud · swindle · scam · con · sham · manipulation · double-dealing
tomfoolery
Foolish or silly behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- monkeyshinesFrivolous or mischievous behavior
pranks · roguery · impishness · naughtiness · hijinks · fooling around · horseplay · capers · monkey business · funny business
fooling around
Idle playful behavior
- messing aroundIdle, aimless activity
- nookieSlang for intercourse
- canoodlingAmorous physical affection
dalliance · tryst · fling · affair · rendezvous · liaison · quickie · romp · fornication · adultery
coquetry
Playful amorous behavior
- teasingPlayful, mild ridicule
- flirtingPlayfully showing romantic interest
- dallianceBrief, casual romance
seduction · canoodling · billing and cooing · making eyes · come-on · innuendo · playing footsie · smooching · necking · petting
malfeasance
Unlawful act by officeholder
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
irregularity · fraud · bribery · collusion · embezzlement · graft · cronyism · nepotism · kickbacks · payoffs
- Reduplicativesbye-bye, mama, papa, haha, yo-yo
- magic wordsabracadabra, alakazam, hocus pocus, presto, open sesame
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
- Whimsy Wordsgobbledygook, gibberish, mumbo jumbo, hogwash, balderdash
- placeholdersplaceholder, bar, blank, dummy, filler
- hookupshookup, one-night stand, fling, booty call, casual sex
hanky-pankyhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
openness · transparency · forthrightness · integrity · candor
hanky-pankyfaithfulness
Devoted loyalty maintained
fidelity · monogamy · loyalty · commitment · devotion
hanky-pankypropriety
Correctness of conduct
legitimacy · rectitude · ethical conduct · fair dealing · lawfulness
cheating, shenanigans, prankster, hanky, hokey-pokey, prankishness, hanky panky