Meanings
From monkey + business, probably a calque of Bengali বাঁদরামি (bãdrami, “mischief”, literally “monkey behaviour”), from বাঁদর (bãdor, “monkey”) + -আমি (-ami, suffix forming nouns referring to the properties, qualities, or states of the words to which it is attached),[1] from the perception that monkeys behave mischievously.
How to pronounce "monkey business":
AU
Activity that is mischievous, stupid, or time-wasting.
Example: "Stop all this monkey business and do your homework!"
Activity that is morally questionable or even mildly illegal.
Example: "She wondered what sort of monkey business her neighbour was up to, sneaking out of his house at 1:00 am."
Example Sentences
1
I caught you two sneaking around upstairs. What's the monkey business?
2
I suspect there's some monkey business going on behind the scenes of that company.
3
He always seems to be up to some monkey business. I can never trust him.
4
The kids were quiet, and I knew they must be up to some monkey business.
5
I heard some strange noises coming from the basement. It better not be monkey business again.
