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The meaning of MONKEY BUSINESS is shenanigan. How to use monkey business in a sentence.
noun [ U ] us / ˈmʌŋ·ki ˌbɪz·nəs / Add to word list. dishonest or illegal behavior: There’s been some monkey business connected with his tax returns. (Definition of monkey business from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Examples of monkey business. monkey business.
Use monkey business to describe what your sneaky, mischievous little brother gets up to when no one's watching him. Climbing on top of the refrigerator or filling the sugar bowl with salt could both be described as monkey business.
Origin. Monkey business has its roots in the term Monkeyshine. This word was originated in 1832 and meant “dishonorable act;” it was used in the Jim Crow song which mocked African-American slaves. In earlier times parents in England warned their children against bad conduct termed as monkey tricks.
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What does the saying 'Monkey business' mean? Idiom: Monkey business. Meaning: If children get up to monkey business, they are behaving naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as 'monkeying around'. Country: International English | Subject Area: Animals | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used. Contributor: Richard Flynn.
noun [ U ] us / ˈmʌŋ.ki ˌbɪz.nɪs / uk / ˈmʌŋ.ki ˌbɪz.nɪs / Add to word list. behavior that is not acceptable or is dishonest: The teacher suspected that there had been some monkey business going on while she was out of the room. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Cheating & tricking. anti-fraud. bad faith. bamboozle. bilk. blackmail.
-1. deceitful or dishonest conduct 2. silly, foolish or mischievous behavior. · I thought being a nanny would be all fun and games, until I realized how much monkey business was involved in trying to entertain a group of toddlers who think that eating crayons is a good idea. Origin of the phrase: Monkeys are a wild bunch.
noun. frivolous or mischievous behavior. improper or underhanded conduct; trickery. monkey business. noun. informal. mischievous, suspect, dishonest, or meddlesome behaviour or acts. Discover More. Word History and Origins. Origin of monkey business 1. An Americanism dating back to 1880–85. Discover More. Idioms and Phrases.
Monkey business can refer to many different types of behavior. Cheating on a test could be called monkey business but so could talking in class or horseplay in class. It can refer to very serious misconduct, even illegal conduct, or to quite mundane and harmless fun.
Definition of monkey business noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
