monkey business
nounUK /ˈmʌŋki ˈbɪznəs/
US /ˈmʌŋki ˈbɪznəs/
Silly or sneaky tricks that people do to fool others.
The teacher knew there was monkey business going on when the class got too quiet.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Dishonest or illegal activity, especially in business or politics.
The auditors found some monkey business in the company's accounts.
3. Playful or silly behavior that wastes time.
Stop the monkey business and finish your homework.
4. Secret or questionable dealings between people.
There was some monkey business behind the scenes before the vote.