What does ‘monkey business’ mean?
To “monkey business” means to dishonest or mischievous behaviour. A 19th-century American idiom drawn from the antics of monkeys; not in Brewer's 1898.
Origin
- A 19th-century American idiom drawn from the antics of monkeys; not in Brewer's 1898.
How to use it
- Informal accusation of misconduct or foolery.
- Example: No more monkey business — get back to work.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.