Mischief
/ˈmɪstʃɪf/
nounB1
Definition
Mischief is when someone, often a child, does something a little bad or naughty, like playing tricks or causing small problems. It is usually done in a playful way, not to seriously hurt or damage anything. People often use the word to describe fun but slightly troublesome actions.
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See It in Action
Playful or naughty behavior causing small trouble
- •The children got into mischief by hiding their teacher’s books.
- •The kitten’s mischief made everyone laugh, even when it knocked over the vase.
- •He was punished for his mischief at school, but it was mostly harmless fun.
The result or effect of such playful trouble
- •The mischief caused by the prank was cleaned up quickly.
- •Parents try to stop mischief before it leads to bigger problems.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "mischief" like "fun trouble"—not serious bad behavior, but playful actions that can annoy or cause small problems
- ✓Picture a child hiding a friend’s pencil as a joke or drawing on the wall with crayons
- ✓It’s the feeling when you laugh because someone is being silly but also making a little mess or confusion
- ✓Sounds like "MISS-chiff" → imagine a little "miss" (girl) causing a small "shift" or change that surprises others in a funny way
- ✓Think of the character Loki from stories, who likes to play tricks and cause small problems but not serious harm
- ✓NOT like "crime" (very bad and serious), mischief is small and often funny or harmless
- ✓NOT like "accident" (unplanned), mischief is usually done on purpose to tease or have fun
- ✓NOT like "prank" (a specific joke), mischief is more general playful trouble or naughtiness
Try Other Words
- •Prank: a specific joke or trick (Use when the trouble is a planned joke)
- •Naughtiness: bad behavior, especially of children (Use when focusing on being bad or disobedient)
- •Trouble: general problems or difficulties (Use when the problem is more serious or less playful)
- •Antics: playful or funny behavior (Use when emphasizing silly or amusing actions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; root word "mischief" is whole
- •Etymology: From Old French "meschief," meaning "misfortune" or "bad luck"
- •Historical development: Originally meant bad luck or harm, but over time shifted to mean playful trouble or naughty behavior
- •Modern usage: Used mainly to describe small, playful acts that cause minor problems, especially by children or animals
- •Interesting fact: Mischief often has a lighter, less serious meaning than its older sense of harm
Reflect & Connect
•Can mischief ever be harmful, or is it always just playful fun? How do you decide?
•Have you ever been in mischief? What happened, and how did people react?
Fill in the blanks
1.The children got into mischief because they wanted to ___ the teacher’s attention with jokes.
2.Mischief usually causes ___ problems, not serious damage or hurt.
3.Unlike a crime, mischief is often done ___ and without bad intent.
4.When someone is in mischief, they might be ___ or teasing others in a playful way.
5.Parents often try to stop mischief before it ___ into bigger trouble.
6.Mischief can include hiding things, making noise, or ___ small messes.
7.After the mischief, the children helped to ___ the room and say sorry.