monkey business
frivolous or mischievous behavior.
improper or underhanded conduct; trickery.
Origin of monkey business
1Words Nearby monkey business
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use monkey business in a sentence
A snapshot of presidential candidate Gary Hart aboard the yacht "monkey business" ended his aspirations forever.
And after Gary Hart taunted the press to follow him around in 1987, we believed all political monkey business was our business.
It would take a thousand men and cost enough to buy a whole new tract to do all the monkey business they want you to do.
The Rules of the Game | Stewart Edward White"monkey business" is a very good act, and both men do excellent work on the taut and slack wire.
Adventures in the Arts | Marsden HartleyIt would be well for you to tell those men that any monkey business with them will be unhealthy.
Si Klegg, Book 5 (of 6) | John McElroy
“None of your monkey business,” snapped the policeman, advancing toward the man.
The Forest of Mystery | James H. Foster"Been some monkey business done round yere," muttered the aged negro.
Old Man Curry | Charles E. (Charles Emmett) Van Loan
British Dictionary definitions for monkey business
informal mischievous, suspect, dishonest, or meddlesome behaviour or acts
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with monkey business
Silly, mischievous, or deceitful conduct, as in The teacher told the children to cut out the monkey business and get to work, or I don't trust that lawyer—there's some monkey business going on. This expression transfers the tricks of monkeys to human behavior. [Late 1800s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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