monkey business

noun
1.
frivolous or mischievous behavior.
2.
improper or underhanded conduct; trickery.
Origin
1880-85, Americanism
Examples from the web for monkey business
  • Although the monkeys are clever, the peddler finally outsmarts them in monkey business.
British Dictionary definitions for monkey business

monkey business

noun
1.
(informal) mischievous, suspect, dishonest, or meddlesome behaviour or acts
Slang definitions & phrases for monkey business

monkey business

noun phrase
  1. Frivolous pranks; japes and jests, etc: He was full of monkey business, the clown
  2. Dubious and dishonest stratagems; trickiness: Show these kids that you're going to stand for no monkey business (1883+)

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 ]