monkey business
0 antonyms and opposites of monkey business, grouped by meaning.
Noun — Dishonest or underhand behaviour — fiddling figures, cutting corners or quietly breaking the rules — that somebody suspects is going on.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun informal
Dishonest or underhand behaviour — fiddling figures, cutting corners or quietly breaking the rules — that somebody suspects is going on.
“The auditors found some monkey business in the expenses claims.”
2. noun informal
Silly or mischievous behaviour, especially by children who should be settling down.
“Right, lights out, and no monkey business.”
How to Use Monkey Business
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Informal and uncountable. The dishonest sense is the commoner one in adult speech; the mischief sense is what parents say to children.
Etymology
From monkey, long used of mischievous or tricky behaviour, plus business in the sense 'goings-on, activity'.
Full origin of monkey business →Frequently Asked Questions
Is monkey business serious or playful?
Both, depending on context. Applied to children it means harmless mischief; applied to money, contracts or elections it means genuine dishonesty, though the light-hearted wording softens the accusation.
What is the difference between monkey business and hanky-panky?
Both can mean underhand dealing, but hanky-panky commonly implies a sexual affair as well, which monkey business does not. If you say there was hanky-panky at the conference, people will assume romance rather than fraud.
What is the difference between monkey business and monkeying around?
Monkeying around is purely playful time-wasting or fooling about. Monkey business carries a stronger suggestion of rule-breaking or deceit.
Does monkey business mean cheating?
It can. In business and politics it points at quiet dishonesty — manipulated figures, rigged results, favours done off the books — without naming the specific offence. Used of children, it just means mischief.