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

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