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monkey business

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monkey business

 and funny business

silliness; dishonest tricks. That's enough monkey business. Now, settle down. Stop the funny business. This is serious!

See also: business, monkey

monkey business

  (slightly informal)

silly behaviour or dishonest behaviour So what kind of monkey business have you kids been up to while I was out? The tax inspectors discovered that there had been some monkey business with the accounts.

See also: business, monkey

monkey business

Silly, mischievous, or deceitful conduct, as in The teacher told the children to cut out the monkey business and get to work, or I don't trust that lawyer-there's some monkey business going on. This expression transfers the tricks of monkeys to human behavior. [Late 1800s]

See also: business, monkey

monkey business

and funny business

n. silliness; dishonest tricks. That’s enough monkey business. Now, settle down. Stop the funny business and get to work!

See also: business, monkey