monkey business

See synonyms for monkey business on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. frivolous or mischievous behavior.

  2. improper or underhanded conduct; trickery.

Origin of monkey business

1
An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Words 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.

    Don't Ask, Don't Tell Turncoats | Linda Hirshman | December 1, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • And after Gary Hart taunted the press to follow him around in 1987, we believed all political monkey business was our business.

    Politicians Need Privacy, Too | Meghan McCain | February 7, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • 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 Hartley
  • It would be well for you to tell those men that any monkey business with them will be unhealthy.

  • “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

monkey business

noun
  1. 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

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.