monkeyshine

[ muhng-kee-shahyn ]

noun

1. Usually monkeyshines. a frivolous or mischievous prank; monkey business.

Word History and Origins

Origin of monkeyshine¹

First recorded in 1820–30; monkey + shine ¹ (in the sense of “a foolish prank”)

Example Sentences

“What kind of monkeyshine is this?” he growled.

From Literature

“Are you tired of being led astray? Run amok? Highjinks? Monkeyshine? Hornswaggle? Skullduggery?”

From The Guardian

But as a popular-entertainment monkeyshine on the making of musicals, and as the decidedly unspiritual autobiography of a fledgling librettist, the show bumps and bounces along cheerfully enough.

From Time Magazine Archive

"I did cut a monkeyshine or two," admitted the young man.

From Project Gutenberg

Always up to some monkeyshine.

From Project Gutenberg