27 Monkey Idioms And Phrases (Meaning & Examples) (2024)

FAQs

What is the idiom of monkey? ›

'To make a monkey out of someone' means to make someone look silly. "He thought he could make a monkey out of his friend but he was not prepared for what was coming." "Why do you want to make a monkey out of me?

British slang. to care about or regard as important.

behaviour that is not acceptable or is dishonest: The teacher suspected that there had been some monkey business going on while she was out of the room. Cheating & tricking.

How many idioms are there? Wikipedia suggests that there are over 25,000 idiomatic expressions in the English language.

Do not give a monkey meaning? ›

Definition of not give a monkey's

British, informal. : to not care at all about something. I don't give a monkey's about their problems!

don't give) a monkey's chuff- a term sometimes shortened to 'a monkey's' means you couldn't care less. e.g.. "I couldn't give a monkey's if she leaves tomorrow".

(British English, slang) used to say, in a way that is not very polite, that you do not care about something, or are not at all interested in it: To be honest, I couldn't give a monkey's whether you go or not. See also: not give a monkey's. continental.

Monkey business has its roots in the term Monkeyshine. This word was originated in 1832 and meant “dishonorable act;” it was used in the Jim Crow song which mocked African-American slaves. In earlier times parents in England warned their children against bad conduct termed as monkey tricks.

behavior that is not acceptable or is dishonest: The teacher suspected that there had been some monkey business going on while she was out of the room.

idiom. chiefly British. : with all possessions : completely. He got rid of the visitors, bag and baggage.

Idioms for Kids | What Is an Idiom, and What Do They Mean? - YouTube

In syntax and grammar, a phrase is a group of words which act together as a grammatical unit. For instance, the English expression "the very happy squirrel" is a noun phrase which contains the adjective phrase "very happy". Phrases can consist of a single word or a complete sentence.

How do you find a phrase in a sentence? ›

The quickest way to identify whether a group of words is a phrase or a clause is to look for both a subject and a verb. If you can find both, then it's a clause. If you can only find one or the other, then it's a phrase.

An idiom is an expression with a figurative meaning that differs from the literal meaning. We hear idioms every day – both in conversation and in the media. Used correctly, idioms can amplify messages in a way that draws readers in and helps to awaken their senses.

Grammatical phrases add meaning to sentences by giving detail about one or more of the parts of speech in use. A grammatical phrase can clarify any part of speech—the key here is that all a phrase does is provide some detail; it doesn't have the structure to be a clause of its own.

Monkey See, Monkey Do is a saying that originated in Jamaica in the early 18th century and popped up in American culture in the early 1920s. The saying refers to learning something by mimicry, without understanding why it works or concerned about the consequences.

1 : to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner. 2a : fool, trifle —often used with around he likes to monkey around with engines.

Noun. cheeky monkey (plural cheeky monkeys) (UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, idiomatic) An impudent person, usually a child.

Monkeys are famously playful and mischievous, and because of this, monkey is a common diminutive (or fond nickname) for impish kids, and "monkey business" is foolishness or deceitful behavior. When you monkey around, or monkey with something, you fool about or fiddle with it.

Most monkeys are omnivores; they eat plant-based foods, such as fruits and nuts, as well as some meat, such as lizards and bird eggs. Monkey diets can shift with changing seasons.

Monkeys and apes lack the neural control over their vocal tract muscles to properly configure them for speech, Fitch concludes. "If a human brain were in control, they could talk," he says, though it remains a bit of a mystery why other animals can produce at least rudimentary speech.

What is more than one monkey called? ›

The plural of monkey is monkeys. There are some words ending in 'y' that become 'ies' when plural.

If you refer to a child as a monkey, you are saying in an affectionate way that he or she is very lively and naughty. [feelings] She's such a little monkey. Synonyms: rascal, horror [informal], devil, rogue More Synonyms of monkey.

Most mammals lead with their “monkey brain”, which is fueled by our most basic responses to fear and desire. The most advanced part of the brain is the “human brain”, which consists of the outer layer, surrounding the “monkey brain”. This area allows for logical, emotionless thought, as well as delayed gratification.

The 🙉 (hear-no-evil monkey) emoji often stands for discomfort and awkwardness.

Noun. chunky monkey (plural chunky monkeys) (slang) A mildly obese person.

Definition of not give a monkey's

British, informal. : to not care at all about something. I don't give a monkey's about their problems!

These data indicate that heart rate in monkeys varies within a very wide range – from 120 to 250 beats/min and even more (table I). Conditioning of monkeys to experimental situation is of great importance for heart rate stabilization at normal values.

Monkeys as smart as TODDLERS: Scientists say apes can understand abstract properties. Monkeys are as smart as a three-year-old child when it comes to solving puzzles. Capuchins, chimpanzees and bonobos were able to pull a piece of string after watching how it released a food reward.