hanky-pank

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A carnival game which guarantees a winner.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

That means if you book a couple of games of hanky pank, I'll allow you to book an alibi with them so if the kids win something we will rip off dad, that seems fair.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “hanky-pank” mean?

A carnival game which guarantees a winner.

Is “hanky-pank” formal or informal?

hanky-pank is generally slang.