monkey
B1Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A small to medium-sized primate with a long tail, typically living in trees in tropical regions.
A mischievous or playful person, especially a child; a term for various mechanical devices or parts resembling a monkey in some way; to tamper or meddle with something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can refer literally to the animal, but is often used metaphorically for playful/mischievous behaviour. As a verb, it implies unauthorised or clumsy interference.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in verb usage and some compound terms. 'Monkey wrench' is more common in US English; 'monkey nuts' (peanuts in shell) is primarily British.
Connotations
Similar playful/mischievous connotations in both varieties. Slight potential for more negative connotation (e.g., 'monkey business') in US English.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties. The noun is slightly more common than the verb.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
monkey with [object]monkey around [adverbial]stop monkeying aboutVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “monkey on one's back”
- “more fun than a barrel of monkeys”
- “monkey see, monkey do”
- “throw a monkey wrench into the works”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'Don't monkey with the financial projections.'
Academic
Rare outside biological contexts. 'The study observed tool use in capuchin monkeys.'
Everyday
Very common: 'The kids were monkeying around on the climbing frame.' 'He's a cheeky little monkey.'
Technical
Zoology/biology: specific primate classification. Engineering: 'monkey wrench', 'monkey hook'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The children were told not to monkey about with the television settings.
- Who's been monkeying with my bicycle gears?
American English
- He spent the afternoon monkeying around in the garage.
- Don't monkey with the thermostat.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
American English
- No standard adverbial form in use.
adjective
British English
- He wore a ridiculous monkey suit to the formal dinner.
- The monkey puzzle tree in the garden is ancient.
American English
- He got a job as a grease monkey at the local garage.
- It was a real monkey trial, full of procedural errors.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The monkey ate a banana.
- Look at the monkey in the tree!
- My little brother is a cheeky monkey.
- We saw monkeys at the zoo.
- Stop monkeying around and help me with this.
- The mechanic used a monkey wrench to loosen the bolt.
- His gambling addiction became a real monkey on his back.
- The new regulations threw a monkey wrench into our expansion plans.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MONKey swinging from a KEY branch. The MONKey has the KEY to being playful.
Conceptual Metaphor
MISCHIEF IS MONKEY BEHAVIOUR (e.g., 'stop monkeying around'); A BURDEN IS A MONKEY (e.g., 'a monkey on my back').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for 'обезьяна' in metaphorical contexts (e.g., calling a child 'обезьянка' is more affectionate than 'monkey' in English).
- The verb 'to monkey' does not mean to mimic or copy exactly.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'monkey' as a direct synonym for all primates (apes are not monkeys).
- Confusing 'monkey wrench' (adjustable spanner) with other tools.
- Overusing the verb form in formal writing.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'a monkey on one's back' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Monkeys generally have tails and are usually smaller. Apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, gibbons) lack tails, have larger brains, and different skeletal structures.
When referring to the animal or playfully to a mischievous child, it is not offensive. However, it has been used as a racial slur and is extremely offensive in that context. Context is crucial.
Yes, informally. 'To monkey with something' means to tamper or fiddle with it, often clumsily. 'To monkey around' means to play or fool about.
It's an adjustable spanner (UK: adjustable wrench). The idiom 'throw a monkey wrench into the works' means to sabotage or disrupt plans.