Dr. Barnaby Fulton
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monkey business. noun [ U ] uk / ˈmʌŋ.ki ˌbɪz.nɪs / us / ˈmʌŋ.ki ˌbɪz.nɪs / Add to word list. behaviour 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.
The meaning of MONKEY BUSINESS is shenanigan. How to use monkey business in a sentence.
- What Does Monkey Business Really Mean?
- How Is The Idiom Used, and What Are Some examples?
- What Is The Origin of The Idiom Monkey Business?
- What Are The Related Terms to This Idiom?
- Stop Monkeying Around!
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The phrase monkey business denotes actions that are a bit deceptive, silly, or not to be taken seriously. TheCambridge Dictionarydefines it as “behavior that is not acceptable or is dishonest.” In addition, The Britannica Dictionary breaks the idiom’s meaning into two parts, showing that it can be both lighthearted and serious as either “playful tr...
In contemporary language, monkey businessis such a popular idiom we use to express suspicion towards deceitful or foolish actions. But here are a few different ways you can work it into conversations.
The idiom monkey business has multiple potential origins. One primary theory indicates its roots are found in the term Monkeyshine, first coined in 1832 with the meaning dishonorable act. This term was used notably in the Jim Crow song that mocked African–American slaves. In addition, English parents in earlier times often referred to their childre...
Learning about related terms for monkey businessonly adds to your growing vocabulary and gives a clearer expression of thought.
In this article, we’ve dived deep into the intriguing world of the idiom monkey business, exploring its origins, evolution, and impact on English language communication. We have uncovered its diverse roots and walked through its transition from a term with serious implications to a playful, widely recognized phrase. As we have seen, idioms like mon...
Learn the meaning, origin, usage, and examples of the idiom monkey business, which refers to deceptive or silly actions. Find out how to use it in different contexts, such as work, relationships, and media, and test your knowledge with a quiz.
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Monkey business is illegal business or illegal action taken by someone. Or things you do that can't favour you.
- I think the two meanings are so close it's hardly practical to try and split usages into one or the other. Lots of things can be called "monkey bus...
- I would say the former is usually understood. I can see it extending to the latter, but I always think of monkey business as something more benign.
- In the 1920's in the USA a teacher called Scopes was put on trial for teaching evolution. He apparently coached his pupils into acting as prosecuti...
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.
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.
Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase "monkey business", which can describe deceitful, dishonest, silly, or mischievous conduct. Find out how monkeys inspired this expression and how it relates to a Sanskrit term.
