Word To Use Today: shenanigans.

Shenanigans are the sorts of things you don't want on your CV. The sorts of things you don't want your mum to know about. Or your teacher. Or your boss, or your priest.

Shenanigans aren't necessarily bad, exactly - or, at least, the point of shenanigans isn't usually to hurt anyone. No, it's to have a good time, or a profitable time, albeit in a way of which the authorities would probably not approve.

These things may have a victim, true, but if they do then the word shenanigan is really very effective at casting an aura of innocent fun, or minor mischief, over the whole affair.

(And some shenanigans are affairs.)

There can also be hint of secret plans about shenanigans; of bribes, perhaps, and favours called-in, but, as I've said, the main thing is that the word itself is a construct of such charm and easy humour that even the most nefarious of activities comes over as little more than harmless mischief.

Clever.

Word To Use Today: shenanigan. This word appeared in the mid 1850s and seems to be connected with the American Gold Rush. Where the word comes from is a matter of argument, but the Irish sionnachaíonn has the meaning foxy, so it may be something to do with that.

It's possible, though rare, to have a single shenanigan: but, let's face it, when someone gets up to mischief he or she seldom wants to stop.