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.