monkey tricks

US monkey shines

pl n

informal mischievous behaviour or acts, such as practical jokes

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

Examples from the Web for monkey tricks

Historical Examples of monkey tricks

I see there's an objection to Monkey-tricks for the Grand National.
Punch, or the London Charivari Volume 107, August 25, 1894
Various
Only a few of our men were killed or blinded by these monkey-tricks.
Now It Can Be Told
Philip Gibbs
He had only a cynical laugh for everything, even for the monkey-tricks performed by his mistress at the council of state.
Life and Times of Her Majesty Caroline Matilda, Vol. I (of III)
C. F. Lachelles Wraxall