mis ‧ chief /ˈmɪstʃəf, ˈmɪstʃɪf/ BrE AmE 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.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ 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.
■ phrases
▪ 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.