Idiom
Monkey business
Monkey business is silly, mischievous or dishonest behavior, especially when someone is trying to get away with something.
How people use it
It can be light or serious. A teacher might say "No monkey business while I'm gone," meaning no messing around. In other contexts it suggests cheating or shady dealing: "The auditors suspected some monkey business with the accounts." The tone is informal and a bit old-fashioned. Phrases like "funny business" and "shenanigans" have a similar meaning. It is usually something people are "up to," as in "What monkey business are you two up to?"
Examples
- The babysitter warned the kids that there would be no monkey business at bedtime.
- When the scores suddenly changed, the coach suspected some monkey business.
- The new owner found some monkey business in the old manager's records.
Where it comes from
The phrase is American and appears in the late 1800s. It is based on the playful, mischievous behavior of monkeys, which people have long found both funny and a little sneaky. It became widely known during the 1900s.
Check yourself
1. If a parent says "No monkey business," what does she mean?
Answer: Behave and don't cause trouble. Monkey business means mischief or misbehavior, so the parent is asking for good behavior.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Someone was up to monkey business, because the cookie jar was empty again.. Monkey business means mischief or trickery, like secretly emptying the cookie jar.
Similar idioms
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