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Monkey = the Devil;

an imp of mischief. Hence, a meddlesome child is spoken to as “you little monkey;” and is called “a regular imp,” or “imp of mischief.” The allusion is to the old drawings of devils, with long tails and monkey ugliness.

To get (or have) one’s monkey up. To be riled. Here the allusion is also to the devil or evil spirit in man; he will be “in a devil of a temper.” Even taken literally, monkeys are extremely irritable and easily provoked.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Money
Money makes the Mare to go
Monimia
Monism
Monitor
Monk
Monk Lewis
Monk listening to a Bird
Monk of Westminster
Monkey (A)
Monkey = the Devil;
Monkey
Monkey Board
Monkey Boat
Monkey Jacket
Monkey-puzzle
Monkey Spoons
Monkey with a Long Tail (A)
Monkey’s Allowance
Monkey’s Money
Monkir and Nakir