grease monkey

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a mechanic, especially one who works on automobiles or airplanes.

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grease monkey British  

noun

1. informal a mechanic, esp one who works on cars or aircraft

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Etymology

Origin of grease monkey

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The film opens on Friday, with Mr. Paul starring as Tobey Marshall, a diamond-in-the-rough grease monkey who just happens to possess the driving skills of a world-class auto racer.

From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2014

Crawford, who has a Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Chicago, is an Aristotelian grease monkey: he makes a living, repairing motorcycles in Richmond, Virginia, while teaching culture at the University of Virginia.

From Forbes • Jun. 23, 2011

"I inherited a scrapyard," the princely grease monkey says happily.

From Time Magazine Archive

The term "grease monkey" applied to the trade when lubrication was a matter of grease pits and manual equipment.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Wish I had better news, son. I’m just an old grease monkey, but I’ve been climbing around boat engines for long enough to know the score.”

From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick