From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmischiefmis‧chief /ˈmɪstʃɪf/ ●○○ noun 1 [uncountable]BEHAVE 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]TRICK/DECEIVE the pleasure or enjoyment of playing tricks on people or embarrassing them Kiki’s eyes were bright with mischief.3 → make mischief4 → do yourself a mischief5 [uncountable] formalDAMAGE damage or harm that is done to someone or to their property The jury cleared him of the charge of criminal mischief.COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2verbsbe 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.phrasesfull 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.
Examples from the Corpus
mischief• He would certainly conclude that she was up to some adolescent mischief and take her to task again.• Idle hands and heads breed mischief.• But there is still room for considerable mischief by those who oppose the rush to negotiating glory in Clinton's final days.• criminal mischief• Though by all outward appearances a woman of propriety, she had a penchant for mischief.• The potential for mischief in the international system by politically motivated or overzealous prosecutions is great.• Just routine, Peter, but we don't want that drunken fool getting into mischief.• How was he to know that she was up to some sort of mischief?• The mischief produced by this institution was incalculable because it made religious differences the deciding factor in every political contest.• Ann's light brown eyes glimmered with mischief.get into mischief• Just routine, Peter, but we don't want that drunken fool getting into mischief.• I was toddling around at the time getting into mischief the way any normal, healthy three-year-old boy does.Origin mischief (1200-1300) Old French meschief “something bad that happens”, from mes- ( → MIS-) + chief “head, end” 