funny businessn.
/ˈfʌnɪ ˌbɪznᵻs/, U.S. /ˈfəni ˌbɪznᵻs/ 1. Funny or farcical actions, dialogue, etc., performed by a clown, comedian, or actor and intended to make an audience laugh. Cf. business n. 18.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > a trick, prank, hoax
pratOE
mowa1393
pageant?c1430
jimp?1572
prank1576
jest1578
jig1592
frump1593
trick1605
bilk1664
fun1699
plisky1706
humbug1750
hum1751
practical joke1751
marlock1763
quiz1795
practical joke1804
skite1804
hoax1808
skit1815
wrinkle1817
rusty1835
funny business1838
string1851
stringer1851
cod1862
mank1865
spoof1889
leg-pull1893
rannygazoo1896
shenanigan1926
gotcha1967
to throw a fastball1968
wind-up1984
1838 Courier 26 Apr. The performances of the itinerant company in which ‘Old Glory’ plays the leading parts, and Young Maidstone ‘does the funny business’.
1892 Daily Jrnl. (Logansport, Indiana) 13 Mar. The play is said to be a ridiculous conglomeration of funny business, musical specialities and dancing.
1928 Times 7 July 4/3 Bunny was certainly a chief comedy part. It was full of funny business and had as many laughs as any part in the play.
1982 Washington Post 24 Sept. (Weekend section) 5/1 After a bit of funny business involving scenery, they come on stage.
2004 R. Nott Films Randolph Scott 74/1 He has fun in the role, but he's not given a lot of funny business, aside from the rare witty line.
2. colloquial. Nonsense; fooling around. Later chiefly: action or behaviour that is deceptive, dishonest, unethical, or otherwise suspect. Also: engagement in or pursuit of sexual or romantic activity, esp. when inappropriate or unwelcome. Cf. monkey business n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [noun] > action, behaviour > instance of
unwitc1175
foliota1250
follyc1300
unwisdom1303
foolishness?1506
fooling?1545
foppery1546
foolery1562
filly-folly1565
impertinency1588
impertinence1603
silliness1624
idiotism1647
noddary1647
fondness1653
ineptitude1656
sottise1673
insipidity1822
bêtise1827
foolishment1871
jackassery1873
funny business1882
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception > collectively
lakec1175
fibicches1362
flim-flam1570
tricks and trillibubs1637
funny business1882
1882 B. Nye Forty Liars 225 All the double f's and q's and z's and Polish diphthongs, and other funny business.
1888 E. W. Nye Baled Hay 38 There was no funny business in his nature.
1891 E. S. Ellis Check No. 2134 xiv. 93 I hope we'll get through without any more funny business.
1915 F. Froest & G. Dilnot Crime Club x. 252 The blue barrel of a revolver showed in the electric light. ‘No funny business!’ he warned them. ‘You guys can't play it on me.’
1936 ‘I. Hay’ Housemaster xv. 191 She seemed to be labouring under the idea that he, Victor, was trying to start some funny business with her.
1960 O. Manning Great Fortune iii. xviii. 210 Our permits..are issued on the understanding that we do not get mixed up in any funny business.
2000 Daily Mail (Nexis) 25 Jan. 21 ‘He..promised again he would not try any funny business.’ When she woke to find him assaulting her, she screamed out that he was a ‘pervert’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1838