subs. (common).—(1) Legerdemain; whence (2) trickery; UNDERHAND (q.v.) work; cheating; any manner of double-dealing or intrigue. HANKY-PANKY BUSINESS = conjuring; HANKY-PANKY WORK (or tricks) = double-dealing. A BIT OF HANKY-PANKY = a trick; a piece of knavery.
1841. Punch, Vol. I., p. 88. Only a little HANKY-PANKY.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Zeph and Other Stories, ch. xiii. He knew that … any crime committed on his premises would tell against him on licensing day, and he kept a pretty sharp look out to see that what he was pleased to term HANKY PANKY was not carried on under his nose.
1864. YATES, Broken to Harness, ch. xxxviii. If there was any HANKY PANKY, any mystery I mean, he’d always swear he was out whenever he called, for fear it should be bullied out of him.
1877. W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, v. 323. —— There’s some HANKY PANKY business going on among the men of No. 2 Prison; the Catholic side is ringing changes, and it is done in this shop.
