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monkey tricks

British

plural noun

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If the Egyptian army, "which is being aided and trained by Nazi instructors," tries any monkey tricks, Britain will defend itself.

From Time Magazine Archive

Follies they were, things a silly kid does; and it wasn't by those monkey tricks that a fellow developed his physique.

From The Combined Maze by Sinclair, May

"If you try any monkey tricks with me—" Mr. Holland eyed him with interest.

From The Man Who Knew by Wallace, Edgar

Accordingly the next time they thought of playing one of their monkey tricks upon him, I determined to be present.

From Long Live the King by Boothby, Guy

"The girl's all right: but she's led by your infernal monkey tricks into thinking that I'm neglecting her; so naturally she pretends to take up with you."

From A Poached Peerage by Magnay, William

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023