mischief
[noun]
Synonyms:
- trouble, impishness, misbehaviour, monkey business (informal), naughtiness, shenanigans (informal), waywardness
- harm, damage, evil, hurt, injury, misfortune, trouble

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Related Words: difficulty, hardship, trouble

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

mis‧chief /ˈmɪstʃəf, ˈmɪstʃɪf/ noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: meschief 'something bad that happens', from mes- ( ⇒ mis-) + chief 'head, end']

1. [uncountable] bad behaviour, especially by children, that causes trouble or damage, but no serious harm:
Now run along, and don’t get into mischief.
They’ve got enough toys to keep them out of mischief for a while.
If you can’t see Nick, you can be sure he’s up to some mischief (=behaving badly and causing trouble or damage).

2. [uncountable] the pleasure or enjoyment of playing tricks on people or embarrassing them:
Kiki’s eyes were bright with mischief.

3. make mischief informal to deliberately cause quarrels or unfriendly feelings between people
make mischief between
I didn’t want to make mischief between them.

4. do yourself a mischief British English informal to injure yourself slightly:
If you try to lift that box, you’ll do yourself a mischief.

5. [uncountable] formal damage or harm that is done to someone or to their property:
The jury cleared him of the charge of criminal mischief.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

mischief
noun
QUANT. glint, hint There was a glint of mischief in her eyes.
VERB + MISCHIEF cause, do, make Such people will do anything they can to make mischief.
get into/up to Don't get up to any mischief while we're out.
keep/stay out of Try to stay out of mischief, will you?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

mischief

be up to mischief (=be doing things that cause trouble or damage)
The children were lively and always up to mischief.
get into/up to mischief (also make mischief) (=do things that cause trouble or damage)
You spend too much time getting into mischief!
keep/stay out of mischief (=not do things that cause trouble etc)
Can I trust you to stay our of mischief for half an hour?
keep somebody out of mischief (=prevent someone from causing trouble)
Playing football helps keep him out of mischief.
cause mischief (=do things that cause trouble or damage)
Boys were wandering around, out to cause mischief.
somebody's eyes twinkle/dance with mischief (=they show that someone wants to cause trouble, play tricks etc)
Leo nodded, his eyes shining with mischief.
full of mischief (=often playing tricks on people or causing trouble)
I remembered him as a giggling boy who was full of mischief.
a glint/hint of mischief (=an expression that shows someone wants to play tricks)
There was a glint of mischief in her eyes.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲