English Phrases for 'Cheeky Monkeys'
Monkeys are not known for being well-behaved, but they can be silly, cheeky and a lot of fun to watch. That's why we sometimes describe people and things that are really fun as being like "a barrel of monkeys."
That's not the only phrase based on our primate cousins. For example, when a child does or says something they know they shouldn't — and without any apology — adults might call them a "cheeky monkey."
When children see someone else do something fun, they are often quick to try the same thing without thinking about it too much — even if it's a bad idea. When this happens, a parent or teacher might say, "Monkey see, monkey do."
Parents and teachers might also tell children, "Stop that monkey business!" Any kind of silly or naughty behavior can be called "monkey business." This expression can also be used when someone is trying to cheat or trick someone else.
"To make a monkey out of someone" means to make them look stupid or silly — perhaps because of some successful monkey business!
You can also say "I'll be a monkey's uncle" when you are very surprised, or when you don't really believe something. This phrase probably came from the way people first felt about Charles Darwin's theory that humans are related to monkeys. People didn't believe Darwin, so if they thought something wasn't true, they'd say it was as likely as being related to a monkey — being a "monkey's uncle."
