- Today's Word
Shenanigans
[shuh-NAN-i-guhns]
Definition
- (noun) Mischievous or playful behavior, often involving tricks or pranks. It can also describe secret or dishonest activity, typically of a playful or minor nature. The term is usually used in the plural form.
Example
The office manager warned the employees that their lunchtime shenanigans, which included elaborate practical jokes, were becoming too disruptive to the workplace.
Fun Fact
The origin of “shenanigans” is somewhat mysterious. It first appeared in print in the mid-19th century in California, possibly brought by Irish or Spanish-speaking settlers. Some linguists suggest it might be derived from the Spanish word “chanada,” meaning “trick” or “deceit,” or from the Irish word “sionnachuighim,” meaning “I play tricks.” Despite its unclear origins, “shenanigans” has become a popular and colorful way to describe mischievous behavior in English-speaking countries around the world.
(verb) To coax or persuade someone into doing something through flattery, soft words, or gentle persistent manipulation.
She had wheedled the extension out of her professor so smoothly that he’d agreed before he realized he’d been asked — which was precisely the point.