1 A2 idiomatic informal
To behave in a playful, silly, or irresponsible manner, especially when you should be doing something serious.
"Stop monkeying about and help me carry these boxes inside."
monkey about
B1 informal intransitive
To behave in a silly, playful, or irresponsible way.
In plain English
Act silly, play around, or do things in a careless way.
What does "monkey about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To tamper with or handle something carelessly.
"Someone's been monkeying about with the settings on my computer again."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move and behave the way a monkey does — jumping, climbing, playing without purpose.
Actually means
Act silly, play around, or do things in a careless way.
Usage tip
Predominantly British English. Often used by adults speaking to children, or to describe behaviour considered childish or irresponsible. Tone is usually mildly disapproving but not harshly critical.
Words that pair with "monkey about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stop don't always children class equipment
How to conjugate "monkey about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
monkey about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
monkeys about
he/she/it
Past simple
monkeyed about
yesterday
Past participle
monkeyed about
have + pp
-ing form
monkeying about
continuous
Hear "monkey about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "monkey about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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