mischief

do (one) a mischief

To do something that harms one. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. You sure did your brother a mischief by including him in that dangerous game. You're going to do some poor pedestrian a mischief if you keep riding your bike so carelessly. Why would you do me a mischief like that? I thought we were friends.

See also: mischief

do (oneself) a mischief

To do something that harms oneself. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I think you'll do yourself a mischief if you try that risky skateboard trick. No, hold off—you'd do yourself a mischief to respond to the boss when you're this angry. If you keep riding your bike so carelessly, you're gonna do yourself—or some poor pedestrian—a mischief!

See also: mischief

he that mischief hatches, mischief catches

Bad things will happen to you if you cause trouble. If you keep playing these practical jokes on people, Tommy, someone will eventually start playing jokes on you. He that mischief hatches, mischief catches. It's not so funny when it happens to you, huh? He that mischief hatches, mischief catches! Didn't you hear? Josh broke his arm doing one of those asinine stunts, so don't say I didn't warn you. He that mischief hatches, mischief catches.

See also: catch, he, mischief, that

make mischief

To cause naughty, playful trouble. Their parents are both big practical jokers, so all of the kids love to make mischief themselves. He's always making mischief with the interns and new employees.

See also: make, mischief

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

make mischief

to cause trouble. Bob loves to make mischief and get other people into trouble. Don't believe what Mary says. She's just trying to make mischief.

See also: make, mischief

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

make mischief

Cause trouble, as in Don't listen to her gossip-she's just trying to make mischief. This idiom was first recorded in 1884, but the related noun mischief-maker, a person who causes trouble especially by tale-bearing, dates from about 1700.

See also: make, mischief

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

do yourself a mischief

INFORMAL

If you do yourself a mischief, you injure part of your body. I think I'd do myself a mischief if I tried to copy any of her dance moves.

See also: mischief

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

do someone (or yourself) a mischief

injure someone or yourself. informal

See also: mischief, someone

make mischief

create trouble or discord.

See also: make, mischief

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

ˌdo somebody/yourself a ˈmischief

(British English, informal or humorous) hurt somebody/yourself: You could do yourself a mischief wearing such tight trousers!

See also: mischief, somebody

make ˈmischief

deliberately do or say something that annoys or upsets somebody; make trouble for somebody: She told those lies because she was jealous and wanted to make mischief.

See also: make, mischief

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017