monkey business
noun
frivolous or mischievous behavior.
improper or underhanded conduct; trickery.
Origin of monkey business
An Americanism dating back to 1880–85
Words nearby monkey business
monkey,
monkey bars,
monkey block,
monkey bread,
monkey bridge,
monkey business,
monkey climb,
monkey fist,
monkey flower,
monkey flush,
monkey island
Example sentences from the Web for monkey business
Monkey-business on company time is only for Big Shots like him; not for small fry such as you.
The Galaxy Primes |Edward Elmer SmithI'm going to talk to you man to man, Leon, and no monkey-business about it nor nothing.
Potash & Perlmutter |Montague Glass
British Dictionary definitions for monkey business
monkey business
noun
informal
mischievous, suspect, dishonest, or meddlesome behaviour or acts
Idioms and Phrases with monkey business
monkey business
Silly, mischievous, or deceitful conduct, as in The teacher told the children to cut out the monkey business and get to work, or I don't trust that lawyer—there's some monkey business going on. This expression transfers the tricks of monkeys to human behavior. [Late 1800s]