The phrase “monkeying around” refers to silly, playful, or foolish behavior. It is an informal and colloquial expression commonly used in American English.
Origin of the Phrase
The phrase dates back to the early 20th century. It is derived from the behavior of monkeys, which are often seen as playful, mischievous animals. The use of the word “monkey” to mean a mischievous person began in the 16th century. By the 1800s, the phrase “monkey with” was being used to mean tampering with or needlessly adjusting something. This eventually evolved into “monkey around” and “monkey business,” referring to silly or deceitful behavior.
Meaning and Usage
“Monkeying around” is generally used to describe:
- Playful, silly actions – especially those considered annoying or distracting to others.
- Fooling around in a aimless, energetic way rather than working seriously.
- Meddling with or fiddling with something unnecessarily.
Here are some examples of how it is commonly used:
- “The kids were monkeying around in the backseat instead of sitting still.”
- “Stop monkeying with the remote and just pick a channel!”
- “They spent the whole class monkeying around instead of doing their work.”
It is often used as a gentle admonishment to children or others engaging in distracting or unintelligent behavior. However, it is not generally considered offensive or derogatory.
Related Phrases
There are a few other phrases conveying similar meanings:
- Monkey business – Silly or deceitful behavior, often with mischievous intent.
- Monkeyshines – Tricks, pranks or playful antics.
- Go ape – To behave wildly or become extremely excited.
In Popular Culture
References to “monkeying around” can be found in many books, movies, songs and other media:
- The Marx Brothers movie Monkey Business (1931) is named after the phrase.
- Chuck Berry’s song “Too Much Monkey Business” (1956) uses it to describe chaotic, troublesome happenings in his life.
- Children’s author Beverly Cleary titled a book Mitch and Amy (1967) after two characters known for monkeying around.
- The expression is heard in animated films like The Lion King (1994) and Madagascar (2005) to describe the antics of primate characters.
As these examples demonstrate, “monkeying around” has become well-established in the English language as an informal phrase to characterize certain lighthearted, frivolous activities and behaviors.
Conclusion
In summary, “monkeying around” is a colloquial phrase that conveys the sense of silly, playful, or aimless fooling around. It draws comparisons to the mischievous nature of monkeys and their tendency to be distracted by anything amusing. The expression was popularized in the early 20th century and is still widely used, especially in reference to children, students, or even adults behaving in an unserious or disruptive way when they should be focused on more important tasks. However, it is generally lighthearted in tone rather than being severely critical.