Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

monkey's allowance

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.56 in modern English

Syllables: mon-key's al-lowance
IPA

30

Scrabble Score

16

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

More abuse than profit.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

""Well, then, you're like a young bear, all your sorrows to come—that's all, my hearty," replied he. "When you get on board, you'll find monkey's allowance—more kicks than half-pence.[…]""

Etymology

Said to be the reward of the monkeys carried by wandering showmen in centuries past; the monkeys had to perform to beg halfpence from passers-by by exhibiting their privates parts, but the coins they had earned they then had to carry back to the master, while he would kick or otherwise abuse the poor creatures to force them to keep performing.

Usage

Uncountable

Synonyms

more kicks than ha'pence

Questions

What does monkey's allowance mean?: More abuse than profit.
Where does monkey's allowance come from?: Said to be the reward of the monkeys carried by wandering showmen in centuries past; the monkeys had to perform to beg halfpence from passers-by by exhibiting their privates parts, but the coins they had earned they then had to carry back to the master, while he would kick or otherwise abuse the poor creatures to force them to keep performing.

How to pronounce monkey's allowance

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