According to the Oxford English Dictionary (3 rd edition, 2002), this term is probably modelled on Bengali bãdrāmi; this dictionary refers to modern Sanskrit vānara-karman, from vānara, monkey, and karman, action, work, employment, and to Hindi vānara-karma. monkey business synonyms, monkey business pronunciation, monkey business translation, English dictionary definition of monkey business. Monkey business has its roots in the term Monkeyshine. Define monkey business. How to use monkey business in a sentence. Monkey business definition is - shenanigan. The origin of the idiom 'monkey business' can be found by learning about an earlier term: Monkeyshine. Do not get involved in monkey business over the internet. Cyber Laws are stricter than before. Origin. The OED says "monkey business" is a Bengali phrase that English assimilated during British occupation of India. Even earlier, parents in England warned children against bad behavior termed monkey tricks. Monkey Business builds cutting-edge websites for service providers, bloggers, and product-based businesses. monkey (n.) 1520s, also monkie, munkie, munkye, etc., not found in Middle English (where ape was the usual word); of uncertain origin, but likely from an unrecorded Middle Low German *moneke or Middle Dutch *monnekijn, a colloquial word for "monkey," originally a diminutive of some Romanic word, compare French monne (16c. Now passport application has been made available online so that innocent people do not get tricked into monkey business of those who claim to get passports made in less than 3 days. In an 1837 letter (the first usage Google recognizes), it appears in quotes next to the qualifier "as the Indians call it". The term monkey business, which alludes to the proverbial playfulness of monkeys, means mischievous or deceitful behaviour.. This word was coined in 1832 and meant “disreputable behavior;” it was used in the Jim Crow song which derided African-American slaves. A combination of elegant design with clean code is used to create websites that are beautiful, well-built and fully responsive. Learn more. monkey business definition: 1. behaviour that is not acceptable or is dishonest: 2. behavior that is not acceptable or is…. n informal mischievous, suspect, dishonest, or meddlesome behaviour or acts n. n. Slang Silly, mischievous, or deceitful acts or behavior.