Monkey on your back

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Meaning

A nagging burden or addiction, weighing you down.

Origin

From 20th-century America, tied to 1930s drug slang; 'monkey' for dope craving, as in a 1938 'New Yorker' on junkies. Possibly from 'monkey riding' in tales, it reflects a Prohibition haze and jazz lows.

Usage Examples

  • That debt's a monkey on his back.
  • She's got a monkey on her back with smoking.
  • Monkey on your back? Shake that guilt!

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