English
Etymology
Uncertain in origin. These have been suggested:
From Irish term|sionnachuighim|lang=ga||I play the fox,
Shortened from of term|charranada||trick or deceit,
German slang term|schinäglen|lang=de,
Noun
en-noun
- trickery|Trickery, games; skulduggery. To "call", "claim" or "declare" shenanigans is to rhetorically and ironically label something as officially deceitful, improper, or otherwise incorrect.
#: You should learn to spot their shenanigans and avoid being fooled.
- A deceitful confidence trick, or mischief causing discomfort or annoyance. Often the term is used in the plural: shenanigans. The word may have come from the Irish language, however in some regions, shenanigans can merely be harmless mischievous play, especially by children.
#: "The advertisement said it would cost $50 but they charged me $75 at the register. I declare shenanigans." The speaker passes off the statement as having some sort of implied official effect, but in reality, it is simply a complaint.
References
pedialite
et:shenanigan
io:shenanigan
hu:shenanigan
vi:shenanigan
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