antics
plural noun

- foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour

(Compact Oxford English Dictionary)

---
WORD ORIGIN

The singular form antic (circa 1530) is from the Italian "antico," meaning antique, and from the Latin antiquus. It originally referred to the strange and fantastic representations on ancient murals that were found buried around Rome. The meaning was later extended to anything bizarre. Today, antics (the singular form is rarely used) usually relates to behaviour or some type of action.

Antics can occur anywhere. The child who puts a frog in the teacher's desk might be sent home with a note describing the student's dismissal as "classroom antics." After finding out that his employees organised a party in the office the night before with alcohol and loud music, the boss would probably tell them that he was not happy with their "office antics."

Rock and pop musicians seem to enjoy both "onstage antics" and "offstage antics." 60s legend Jimmy Hendrix liked to set his guitar on fire. Pete Townsend of The Who frequently smashed his guitar during concerts. The offstage antics ranged from destroying hotel rooms, to wild parties and drug and alcohol excess.

Politics? There are plenty of examples. Remember the "Whitehouse antics" of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his affair with Monica Lewinsky? The world of sports has also given us plenty of odd behaviour, such as boxer Mike Tyson's "ring antics" that included biting the ear of one of his opponents.

---
SYNONYMS

tomfoolery, mischief, devilry, hanky-panky, escapade, misbehaviour, shenanigans, buffoonery, to act the clown, to monkey about

---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO TODAY'S CONVERSATION:

"His antics around the office could get him fired."