monkey business

noun

: shenanigan sense 2

didn't try any monkey business when the boss was away

Examples of monkey business in a Sentence

Our teacher warned us not to try any monkey business while she was out of the room. the new nanny will not tolerate such monkey business from her charges

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Theo James and Theo James are getting into some serious monkey business. —

Nick Romano, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2024 But there was some monkey business during his very first scene that gave him pause. —

Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 May 2024 There’s a whole lot of monkey business going on this spring in movie theaters. —

Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024 Orangutans: Bella and Segundo Relationship status: A blind date that didn't go so well Sometimes matchmaking can feel a bit like monkey business. —

Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for monkey business

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of monkey business was in 1835

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Monkey business.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkey%20business. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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