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monkeyshine

American  
[muhng-kee-shahyn] / ˈmʌŋ kiˌʃaɪn /

noun

  1. Usually monkeyshines a frivolous or mischievous prank; monkey business.

Etymology

Origin of monkeyshine

First recorded in 1820–30; monkey + shine 1 (in the sense of “a foolish prank”)

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.

But as a popular-entertainment monkeyshine on the making of musicals, and as the decidedly unspiritual autobiography of a fledgling librettist, the show bumps and bounces along cheerfully enough.

From Time Magazine Archive

“What kind of monkeyshine is this?” he growled.

From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White

"I did cut a monkeyshine or two," admitted the young man.

From Diane of the Green Van by Dalrymple, Leona

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.