The name of an animal appears in many proverbs and sayings. Likewise, the word monkey may be more common than many think. But they are not all complimentary proverbs and sayings with the word monkey in it. Fortunately, many are rarely used. A number of proverbs with monkey has to do with money. There are also proverbs in which a monkey occurs with a reference that has to do with the ugliness of the animal. But numerous other subjects also appear in such proverbs.
Sleeve
The monkey comes out of the sleeve
Actually a very literal situation. Magicians have sometimes hidden a monkey in their sleeve with their tricks which then comes out as a surprise at a certain moment. So it means that reality emerges.
He has the monkey up his sleeve
This is a kind of contradiction with “The monkey comes out of the sleeve.” Because the monkey is still there. It’s an uncommon saying that means as much as someone is sneaky or mean.
Money
He’s got the monkey
This is when someone has the money in his possession, which is sometimes an inheritance. The saying could come from the fact that the money was first stored in a stone monkey.
Addressing the monkey
Someone who addresses the monkey spends his savings. This saying also refers to a stone piggy bank in the shape of a monkey.
The monkey fleas
Someone who flies a monkey counts his money. That piggy bank again?
You don’t look at a monkey when you come from the East Indies
Someone who has a lot of money does not have to look at something more or less and can sometimes miss a lot for someone else.
Ugly
Even though a monkey wears a gold ring, it is and will always be an ugly thing
This saying sometimes occurs when someone has embellished themselves too much while they are ugly. Beautiful clothes and jewelry will not help.
He has a face like a monkey
Not a compliment for someone who is ugly.
A dressed up monkey
A dressed monkey means someone who has dressed too flashy.
Even monkeys peek in the mirror
But even someone who is not beautiful will occasionally look in the mirror and may still be quite satisfied with himself.
Not
You shouldn’t teach an old monkey to draw faces
There will come a time for everyone when, according to some, learning is no longer possible. In that case, you shouldn’t try that anymore.
You shouldn’t learn a monkey to climb
This saying suggests that a monkey can apparently climb by nature because the meaning of not learning to climb a monkey is that you should not spend time on unnecessary things.
Don’t let the monkey jump on your shoulder
Maybe it is better not to take responsibility in certain situations and you better not let the monkey jump on your shoulder.
When monkeys want to climb higher, they soon see their bare buttocks
Sometimes people’s aspirations are so disproportionate that they want to keep moving up the ladder of society. But someone who wants more than he can actually handle allows himself to be viewed from an unfavorable side and is soon ridiculous.
If you teach a monkey to climb, he will throw coconuts
If you teach someone something you can expect to discover other things as well and if a monkey discovers coconuts by climbing a tree, the chances are high that he will do something with them.
That’s the monkey folded
This saying is used when something cannot be done and therefore should not be started.
If you want a monkey, you get a monkey
To get the right answer it is necessary to ask the right question. Anyone who does not do this, on purpose or otherwise, will of course receive the wrong answer.
A monkey sandwich
A story that is almost certainly not true.
Flatter
Monkey, what a beautiful boy you have
Flattering is usually a good way to get things done. You praise someone for propitiating them.
Status
Standing in front of a monkey
Someone who stands for a monkey has ended up in a situation where he made a fool of himself.
To be received like a monkey in the china shop
To be received like a monkey in the china shop means that you are poorly received.
Getting hit from a lame monkey
That means as much as being insulted, which obviously no one likes.
Look like a monkey in a rusty watch
A scene that is hard to imagine. The meaning of this is that someone looks very surprised.
He reels it like a monkey in a yarn shop
A monkey has no business in a thread store and will soon cause confusion and that is exactly what this saying means.
Copying someone
When someone imitates, he imitates someone else. This saying applies to people without a strong will of their own.
Stayed in the monkey
This means that someone has gotten into a difficult situation. It could have come from a not so well known inn with a monkey sign on it. But in this way an explanation can be found for every proverb and saying.