Cutting up

Here's one we don't have yet. When we were kids in the 60's and 70's fooling around or being silly was called "cutting up". You could get in trouble for it.

Not sure what the origin is but will have a look around

The OED recognizes this usage, but, of course, without explaining it. "[cut up] o. trans. With caper, shines, etc.: to behave in a mischievous or frolicsome manner. U.S." You and I, being of U.S. origin, probably would not describe the phrase as transitive, nor use the word frolicsome. Mischievous I can go along with. The OED also has "cut-up, n.". also of U.S. origin. One can, of course, cut a caper, or could perhaps a hundred years ago. SS

Camel, the phrase thesaurus doesn't necessarily contain phrasal verbs or slang like "cutting up." I don't know what Gary's criteria are, but this one might not meet them.

You're right, of course. Now that you've pointed it out, it's obvious. I guess I was so pleased to run across an expression that I hadn't heard for an age and couldn't find in the archives that
I didn't stop to consider that it might not belong here. I sometimes think we've pretty much covered everything there is to cover.

Camel
Who hasn't come across a good phrase in an age.