shenanigan
pronunciation
How to pronounce shenanigan in British English:
UK [ʃə'nænɪgən]
How to pronounce shenanigan in American English:
US [ʃə'nænɪgən]
-
- Noun:
- reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
- the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)
Word Origin
- shenanigan (n.)
- 1855, of uncertain origin. Earliest records of it are in San Francisco and Sacramento, California, U.S. Suggestions include Spanish chanada, a shortened form of charranada "trick, deceit;" or, less likely, German Schenigelei, peddler's argot for "work, craft," or the related German slang verb schinäglen. Another guess centers on Irish sionnach "fox."
Example
- 1. Do not pull any shenanigan on me !
- 2. Another business shenanigan was exposed in the newspaper today .
- 3. Another business shenanigan was exposed in the news-papers today .
- 4. Mr. bush is too preoccupied with a self-created mess in iraq to bother about the latest election shenanigan , especially when the taliban resurgence ( supported by pakistani aid , critics charge ) has made the nato use of pakistani airspace even more vital for military operations in afghanistan .