high jinks
An old Scottish parlour game in which people were chosen, usually by throwing dice, to…An old Scottish parlour game in which people were chosen, usually by throwing dice, to perform some humorous act or drink a large amount of an alcoholic beverage, with a forfeit if they were unable to do so.
» It was a bit of high jinks.
Meaning
3 senses(Scotland, historical, plural, plural only)An old Scottish parlour game in which people were chosen, usually by throwing dice, to perform some humorous act or drink a large amount of an alcoholic beverage, with a forfeit if they were unable to do so.
(broadly, plural, plural only)Boisterous activity or behaviour; lively fun.
(broadly, plural, plural only)Tricky or waggish behaviour; mischief.
- noisy and mischievous merrymaking
Examples
1 sentencesIt was a bit of high jinks.
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
Probably related to jink (“(verb) to make a quick evasive turn; to whirl about when dancinProbably related to jink (“(verb) to make a quick evasive turn; to whirl about when dancing, to dance; (noun) a quick evasive turn”), probably originally onomatopoeic, expressing quick movement.
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