Jiggery-pokery

Neil
Hello, I’m Neil…

Feifei
… and I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak.

Neil
Today I thought I’d impress you with an old Chinese phrase that we use in English now.

Feifei
Oh yes - go on then, Impress me!

Neil
The phrase is jiggery-pokery.

Feifei
Jiggery-pokery! Oh come on, that’s not Chinese!

Neil
It is - everyone in China uses it - apparently.

Feifei
I don’t think so. What does it mean anyway?

Neil
Jiggery-pokery refers to dishonest behaviour that is intended to trick people.

Feifei
Oh hold on… were you trying to trick me just to illustrate this phrase?

Neil
Yes! I almost tricked you, didn’t I?

Feifei
Hmmm. I think we had better hear some better examples of this phrase in action.

Examples
The company is being investigated after some shareholders accused it of jiggery-pokery.

I was surprised that the businessman got away with so much jiggery-pokery before he was finally caught and sent to prison.

Feifei
That’s ‘jiggery-pokery’, which describes dishonest or secret behaviour - but it is definitely not a Chinese phrase, Neil!

Neil
OK, I know. Now before I forget, don’t you owe me ten pounds?

Feifei
No! I bought you lunch remember. Honestly, jiggery-pokery in action!

Neil
Well at least you won’t forget the phrase now.

Feifei
True. Bye.

Neil
Bye.