monkey
/'mʌɳki/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A primate: A mammal belonging to the group of primates that typically has a long tail, lives in trees in tropical countries, and is known for its intelligence and agility.
- A mischievous person: A person, especially a child, who behaves in a playful and naughty way.
Verb:
- To tamper or fiddle with something: To handle, adjust, or alter something in a careless, playful, or secretive way, often causing damage or problems.
- To fool around: To behave in a silly or playful way, or to waste time on unimportant activities.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The zoo has a new exhibit with several species of monkey.
- Stop climbing on the furniture, you little monkey!
Verb:
- Don't monkey with the thermostat; you'll break it.
- He spent the afternoon monkeying around in the garage instead of doing his homework.
Advanced Usage
"To make a monkey out of someone": To make someone look foolish or ridiculous.
- The magician's trick made a monkey out of the volunteer from the audience.
"Monkey business": Silly, mischievous, or dishonest behavior.
- The teacher left the room and warned the class there would be no monkey business.
Variants and Related Words
Monkeyish (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a monkey; mischievous.
- The children's monkeyish antics made everyone laugh.
Monkey wrench (n): A type of adjustable wrench. (Note: This is a compound noun listed separately as a variant).
- He used a monkey wrench to tighten the bolt.
Synonyms
- Noun (primate): Ape, primate. (Note: "Ape" typically refers to tailless primates like gorillas or chimpanzees).
- Noun (person): Rascal, imp, scamp.
- Verb (tamper): Tamper, fiddle, tinker, meddle.
- Verb (fool around): Mess around, play about, dawdle.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Monkey about/around: To act or play in a silly, casual, or time-wasting manner.
- The kids were just monkeying about in the backyard.
Monkey with: To handle or interfere with something, especially in a way that might cause damage.
- You shouldn't monkey with electrical equipment if you don't know what you're doing.
Related Idioms
A monkey on one's back: A persistent problem, annoyance, or addiction that is hard to get rid of.
- His gambling debt was a monkey on his back for years.
More fun than a barrel of monkeys: Extremely amusing or entertaining.
- That comedy show was more fun than a barrel of monkeys.
Noun
- one who is playfully mischievous
- any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
Verb
- do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly
- The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house
- play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly
- Someone tampered with the documents on my desk
- The reporter fiddle with the facts