jiggery-pokery

The Economist is often a source of inspiration for me. They have such wonderful journalists whose vocabulary is extensive and full of juicy words :~)

Jiggery Pokery sprang of the page recently

For those who may not be familiar with the term, it means 'trickery by misrepresentation', so often it's used in the manipulation of people, either for fun, but often with a somewhat more sinister purpose.

I can also be used as a nice way of referring to sexual activity : "Oh no jiggery-pokery in the back of the car please !" OR "They are probably up to a bit of jiggery-pokery"

Synonyms for jiggery pokery are : hanky-panky, skulduggery or trickery

The origin of the saying is probably from the Scottish joukery-pawkery : 
jouk = to dodge and pawk = to trick or use wile

First Known Use: circa 1892

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