1mon·key 
/ˈmʌŋki/ noun
plural mon·keys /ˈmʌŋki/ noun [count] 1 : a type of animal that is closely related to apes and humans and that has a long tail and usually lives in trees — see also rhesus monkey 2 chiefly Brit : a person (especially a child) who causes trouble in a playful way
▪ He's quite a cheeky little monkey, isn't he?
▪ He's quite a cheeky little monkey, isn't he?
a monkey on your back
: a problem that you cannot easily get rid of or solve : a problem or situation that makes you unhappy and that lasts for a long time
▪ His drug addiction has been a monkey on his back for years. ▪ He finally got the monkey off his back and kicked his drug addiction. ▪ After many years of disappointment, she finally got the monkey off her back by winning the championship.
▪ His drug addiction has been a monkey on his back for years. ▪ He finally got the monkey off his back and kicked his drug addiction. ▪ After many years of disappointment, she finally got the monkey off her back by winning the championship.
make a monkey out of
informal : to cause (someone) to look very foolish : to make a fool out of (someone)
▪ I'm not going to let that salesman make a monkey out of me!
▪ I'm not going to let that salesman make a monkey out of me!
more fun than a barrel (full) of monkeys — see 1barrel
not give a monkey's
Brit, informal : to not care at all about something.
▪ I don't give a monkey's about their problems!
▪ I don't give a monkey's about their problems!
— see also grease monkey
