Monkey Phrase Children One's Idioms Refer Talk Fun

Modern American English has many idioms and sayings that seem to refer to monkeys. Today's dialogue used "monkeys will fly out of my butt," but there are other monkey-related phrases that are even more common.

For example, Americans sometimes talk about "monkeying around," which means to behave foolishly, doing things that are unimportant, "pointless" (without a purpose), and silly. Sometimes parents tell their children, "Stop monkeying around before someone gets hurt!" People can also refer to children as "monkeys," especially if they are very active and curious: "What are you doing, little monkey?"

The phrase "monkey business" refers to actions or behaviors that are wrong, not honest, and hidden. One could say, "Why are so many politicians involved in monkey business?" Or, "The reporter is trying to investigate some of the monkey business that happens on Wall Street."

The phrase "monkey see, monkey do," is used to talk about how children end up doing what they observe, not what they are told to do: "If you really want your children to eat healthy foods, you need to stop eating so much "junk food" (food with little or no nutritional value). Monkey see, monkey do."

The phrase "more fun than a "barrel" (a large, wooden container used to store wine and other liquids) of monkeys" describes something that is very enjoyable: "Going to Disneyland was more fun than a barrel of monkeys!"

Finally, the phrase "a monkey on (one's) back" refers to a serious problem that makes one's life more difficult. For example, the "IRS" (Internal Revenue Service; tax-collection agency) could be a monkey on your back during an "audit" (an examination of financial papers).