get the monkey off one's back
idiom
: to remove or solve a problem that has been difficult to get rid of or solve : to get rid of a problem or situation that makes one unhappy and that lasts for a long time
He finally got the monkey off his back and kicked his drug addiction.
Cite this Entry
“Get the monkey off one's back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20the%20monkey%20off%20one%27s%20back. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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