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definitions

monkeyshine

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

noun

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

RELATED WORDS

antic, caper, lark, trick

Nearby words

  1. monkey-shines,
  2. monkey-wrench,
  3. monkeygland sauce,
  4. monkeypod,
  5. monkeypot,
  6. monkfish,
  7. monkhood,
  8. monkish,
  9. monkishly,
  10. monks

Origin of monkeyshine

1820–30; monkey + shine1 (in the sense of ‘a foolish prank’)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for monkeyshines

  • Run, then; an' if Job abuses you, just let me know it, an' I'll keep him from cuttin' up any monkeyshines.

    Toby Tyler|James Otis

  • His achievements had won for him a certain respect even from the officers whom he amused with his 49 monkeyshines.

    The Heart of Pinocchio|Collodi Nipote