monkey suit

noun

, Slang.

1. a tuxedo or full-dress suit.
2. any uniform.

monkey suit

noun

1. slang.
   a man's evening dress

Word History and Origins

Origin of monkey suit¹

First recorded in 1885–90; monkey jacket

Example Sentences

Another popular café, which is operated by blind staff, serves coffee through a hole in the wall, from someone wearing a monkey suit arm, to customers waiting in the street.

From BBC

In his 20s, Swanson tried a job in sales at a car dealership but quickly decided he couldn’t wear a “monkey suit” every day.

From New York Times

“Ain’t you gonna change out of the monkey suit first?”

From Literature

In recruiting him to don a spangly monkey suit and dance for prime time audiences, ABC is in the potency of amnesia as a side-effect of the disinformation fever he brought to us, a natural result of an age of “alternative facts.”

From Salon

Too much to even mention, but some notes: the literal opening line of this film is a guy in a bar saying: “… and I have to put on this monkey suit … every single day!”

From The Guardian

Related Words

• attire
• costume
• dress
• garb
• gown
• khaki
• regalia
• robe
• suit