This week’s column discusses four interesting ‘monkey’ expressions: monkeyshine, monkey’s uncle, to monkey around and to make a monkey out of someone. Monkeys are known for mischievous pranks and quite often such pranks are considered foolish acts.
The expression ‘monkeyshine’ means a trick or a foolish act. If a person is tricky or acts in a foolish manner we tell the person to stop their monkeyshines. Look at the following example:
* Janani asked her children to stop their monkeyshines and prepare for their examinations.
The term ‘monkeyshine’ is an American term and it dates back to the early 19th century. Though the term means a prank or trick, it is also used sarcastically to mean serious ethical or legal violations. The ‘shine’ in the term is colloquial with a number of meanings. It could mean ‘radiance’ or a ‘game’ as any prank can easily be noticed by others.
The expression ‘monkey’s uncle’ means to express disbelief or scepticism at an idea. It is also used to express surprise when something unexpected turns to be true.
* I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if any politician says that they are clean and not corrupt.
* We were all monkey’s uncles when we heard that Jane had failed in four subjects.
The expression ‘I'll be a monkey’s uncle’ was originally a sarcastic remark made by those who were sceptical about Darwin’s theory and was intended to ridicule the theory of evolution.
The phrasal verb ‘to make a monkey out of someone’ means to make a person look stupid. Look at the example below:
* Don’t make a monkey out of yourself and make unnecessary comments about things.
The phrasal verb to monkey around’ or ‘to monkey around with something’ means to behave in a silly or careless way. Here is an example:
* The children monkeyed around at the picnic spot and irritated their parents.
— rayanal@yahoo.co.uk