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To have a monkey on your back means you are grappling with a significant problem or a severe addiction that remains unresolved and is difficult to shake off. Think of it as an enduring burden, much like a persistent monkey clinging tenaciously to your shoulder.
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Aug 4, 2015 · Learn how the phrase "I've got a monkey on my back" evolved from a literal monkey on a horse to a figurative expression for a burden or addiction. See historical references, alternative expressions and related idioms.
- Based on a first glance, it's looking like the original expression is "have a monkey on the roof," meaning a mortgage, dating back to the 1800s. La...
- The original reference was to addiction, specifically to heroin, and there are several songs that use it in this way. These days people use it to r...
- There's a much more ancient tale involving a monkey on somebody else's back, namely the fable by Aesop (who lived circa 620–564 BCE) that is known...
- SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL. ancient stuff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys in short, the monkeys kept a record of the...
- The American Heros channel on TV stated that President U.S. Grant as an 11 yr. old boy rode a bucking horse as a challenge in a circus. No one else...
- I found an instance going back to 1809. Though it is not used figuratively like it is in The Parterre of Poetry and Historical Romance from 1836 (g...
- Hunters in Mozambique throw monkeys towards the wild hogs, the monkeys hop on and slow the hogs as they run. And a video demonstrating how it's dow...
Learn the meaning and origin of the idiom "monkey on your back", which means a longstanding problem or burden. Find out how it is used in different contexts and see examples and related idioms.
Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom "have a monkey on your back", which means to have a serious problem that is making your life difficult or unpleasant. See examples, synonyms, pronunciation and grammar tips.
Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom "a monkey on someone's back", which means a persistent or troublesome problem. See examples, synonyms, and related words.
If you have a monkey on your back, you have a problem, often an emotional problem, that makes your life difficult for a long period. They haven't beaten United in three years and it's a monkey on their backs that they are desperate to shake off.
Nov 12, 2022 · Learn the meaning and usage of the idiom "to have a monkey on your back", which means to have a serious problem or worry that is hard to solve. Find out the difference between this expression and "a millstone around someone's neck".
