Synonyms
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
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
About 35 miles northwest of Chicago, there's some serious monkey business happening.
—Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2023
That's not monkey business.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 16 Mar. 2021
And that’s no monkey business.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2014
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has some real monkey business going on!
—Wendy Geller, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2023
Police in Montgomery County, Maryland are investigating some serious monkey business after a thief made off with a gorilla statue in the dark of night.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023
Researchers say their study is far from simply monkey business, however.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2015
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
About 35 miles northwest of Chicago, there's some serious monkey business happening.
—Kate Hogan, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2023
That's not monkey business.
—Clare Duffy, CNN, 16 Mar. 2021
And that’s no monkey business.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2014
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has some real monkey business going on!
—Wendy Geller, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2023
Police in Montgomery County, Maryland are investigating some serious monkey business after a thief made off with a gorilla statue in the dark of night.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023
Researchers say their study is far from simply monkey business, however.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 8 Jan. 2015
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monkey business.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1835, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near monkey business
Cite this Entry
“Monkey business.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkey%20business. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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