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Glite Dictionary
monkeyshine

monkeyshine

2 9.8
A playful trick that someone does to make people laugh or annoy them
  • noun
  • /ˈmʌŋkiˌʃaɪn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : travesura
  • The children enjoyed their monkeyshine by hiding behind the curtains and jumping out to scare their parents.

Examples

  • Yeah, no monkeyshines, tomfoolery, or hijinks.

    Playing with Fire (2019)

  • Tell me, what do you think of all these monkeyshines?

    Inherit the Wind (1960)

  • I must say I grow weary of these monkeyshines.

    Inglourious Basterds (2009)

  • Gettin' up to some good old American monkeyshines?

    Tusk (2014)

  • Yeah, yeah, the monkeyshines.

    The Fabelmans (2022)

  • His silly monkeyshine during the school play made everyone laugh, even the teachers.

  • After the prank, she admitted that the monkeyshine was all in good fun and meant to lighten the mood.

Synonyms

monkey business
vsmonkeyshine
  • Informal
5 4.6

Playful mischief that can include small dishonest acts to trick or amuse people

focuses on one silly prank rather than ongoing or dishonest behavior
monkeyshines
vsmonkeyshine
  • Archaic
1 9.7

Silly acts done to amuse or annoy other people

is the singular form used for one playful prank
waggery
vsmonkeyshine
  • Archaic
9.9

Playful acts that tease people in a friendly way

refers to a single silly prank or trick rather than general behavior

How Mischievous

shenanigan
  • Informal
52 8.6
to prank
  • Informal
16 2.9
monkeyshine
  • Archaic
2 9.8
antic
53 5.6

Surface Forms

monkeyshine singular
monkeyshines plural

Morphology

monkeyshine = monkey + shine (semi-transparent) = monkey + shine

The element 'monkey' clearly suggests playful or mischievous behaviour, but 'shine' in the sense 'act/show' or 'antics' is dialectal/archaic, so the exact sense 'prank' may not be fully inferable by all learners.

Etymology

Monkeyshine is easy to picture: a playful monkey putting on a little shine or show — a silly, showy act. So, monkeyshine means a mischievous or playful prank done 'to amuse or annoy'.