monkey

[ muhng-kee ]
/ ˈmʌŋ ki /

noun, plural mon·keys.

verb (used without object), mon·keyed, mon·key·ing.

Informal. to play or trifle idly; fool (often followed by around or with).

verb (used with object), mon·keyed, mon·key·ing.

to imitate; ape; mimic.
to mock.

Idioms for monkey

    a monkey on one's back, Slang.
    1. an addiction to a drug or drugs; narcotic dependency.
    2. an enduring and often vexing habit or urge.
    3. a burdensome problem, situation, or responsibility; personal affliction or hindrance.
    make a monkey out of, to cause to appear ridiculous; make a fool of. Also make a monkey of.

Origin of monkey

1520–30; apparently < Low German; compare Middle Low German Moneke (name of son of Martin the Ape in the story of Reynard), equivalent to mone- (akin to obsolete French monne she-ape, Spanish, Portuguese mono ape) + -ke diminutive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM monkey

mon·key·ish, adjective mon·key·ish·ly, adverb mon·key·ish·ness, noun

Words nearby monkey

monk, monk seal, monk's cloth, monk's pepper tree, monkery, monkey, monkey bars, monkey block, monkey bread, monkey bridge, monkey business

British Dictionary definitions for make a monkey out of

monkey
/ (ˈmʌŋkɪ) /

noun

verb

(intr; usually foll by around, with, etc) to meddle, fool, or tinker
(tr) rare to imitate; ape

Word Origin for monkey

C16: perhaps from Low German; compare Middle Low German Moneke name of the ape's son in the tale of Reynard the Fox

Idioms and Phrases with make a monkey out of (1 of 2)

make a monkey out of

see under make a fool of.

Idioms and Phrases with make a monkey out of (2 of 2)

monkey