Definition of mischief

mischiefnoun

tinh nghịch

/ˈmɪstʃɪf//ˈmɪstʃɪf/

The word "mischief" originated in the Old English language and is a compound word made up of two parts: "mist" and "cīfan." "Mist" is an ancient Germanic word meaning "bad" or "misfortune," and "cīfan" comes from the Old Norse word "svarf," meaning "trouble" or "unwieldy." When the two words were combined in Old English, they created "mīsoð," meaning "badness" or "evil deed." This word evolved over time, losing its "ð" (the Old English thorn) sound and gaining the "ch" we see today (which is a blend of the "c" and "h" sounds from Old English). As English continued to be influenced by French, Latin, and other languages, the meaning of "mischief" broadened beyond "evil deed" to include "playful trouble" or "pranks," as it does today. This change occurred in the 14th century, but the root meaning of "badness" and "evil" still exists in modern words like "misbehavior" and "misdemeanor." Overall, the origin of "mischief" is a reflection of the old Germanic origins of the English language, showcasing how words can change and adapt over time.

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bad behaviour (especially of children) that is annoying but does not cause any serious damage or harm

hành vi xấu (đặc biệt là của trẻ em) gây khó chịu nhưng không gây thiệt hại hoặc tổn hại nghiêm trọng

Example:
  • Those children are always getting into mischief.

    Những đứa trẻ đó luôn vướng vào những trò nghịch ngợm.

  • I try to keep out of mischief.

    Tôi cố gắng tránh xa sự nghịch ngợm.

  • It's very quiet upstairs; they must be up to some mischief!

    Trên lầu rất yên tĩnh; chắc họ đang có âm mưu gì đó!

  • Try to stay out of mischief, will you?

    Hãy cố gắng tránh xa những trò nghịch ngợm, được không?

the wish or tendency to behave or play in a way that causes trouble

mong muốn hoặc xu hướng cư xử hoặc chơi theo cách gây rắc rối

Example:
  • Her eyes were full of mischief.

    Đôi mắt cô ấy đầy sự tinh nghịch.

  • There was a glint of mischief in her eyes.

    Trong mắt cô hiện lên một tia tinh nghịch.

harm or injury that is done to somebody or to their reputation

tổn hại hoặc thương tích được thực hiện cho ai đó hoặc danh tiếng của họ

Example:
  • The incident caused a great deal of political mischief.

    Vụ việc đã gây ra nhiều bất ổn chính trị.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

do yourself a mischief
(British English, informal)to hurt yourself physically
  • Watch how you use those scissors—you could do yourself a mischief!
    • make mischief
    to do or say something deliberately to upset other people, or cause trouble between them
  • Such people will do anything they can to make mischief.