practical joke
trick played on sb for amusement, usu involving some physical action 恶作剧
The children put salt in the sugar bowl as a practical joke. 孩子们玩恶作剧把盐放进了糖罐里. ,practical `joker person who plays practical jokes 玩恶作剧的人.
In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product, advertisers have made a close study of human nature and have classified all our little weaknesses.