Meaning & use
circus monkeys
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Meanings
nounplural
Monkeys that are trained to perform tricks and entertain audiences in a circus show.
Grammar: Always plural; the singular is 'circus monkey'. Use it with a plural verb: 'The circus monkeys were trained.'
Patterns
- trained circus monkeys
- perform like circus monkeys
The children laughed at the circus monkeys riding tiny bicycles.
Circus monkeys were once a common act, but many countries now ban them.
She said the animals in the show were mostly dogs, not circus monkeys.
nounpluralfigurativedisapproving
People who copy others or obey orders without thinking for themselves.
Grammar: Figurative and slightly disapproving; usually plural and often used after 'like' or 'a bunch of'.
Patterns
- like circus monkeys
- a bunch of circus monkeys
- dance like circus monkeys
The staff just did what they were told, like circus monkeys.
He called the politicians a bunch of circus monkeys who never question the leadership.
Stop acting like circus monkeys and think for yourselves.
Word forms
| singular | circus monkey |
|---|
Common combinations
- trained circus monkeys
- The trained circus monkeys sat quietly in a row.
- perform like circus monkeys
- The dancers were asked to perform like circus monkeys for the cameras.
- a troop of circus monkeys
- A troop of circus monkeys was kept behind the tent.
- circus monkey act
- The circus monkey act was the highlight of the evening.
Synonyms and how they differ
- performing animals
- Broader and more neutral; it covers trained animals of any kind, not only monkeys.
- copycats
- Fits the figurative sense of people who imitate others, but it does not suggest being controlled or trained.
Word family
- circus noun
- A traveling show with clowns, acrobats, and trained animals.
- monkey noun
- A small animal with a long tail that climbs trees.
- monkeyshine noun
- Informal, usually plural: silly or mischievous behavior.
Commonly confused: circus monkeys or organ grinder's monkey?
circus monkeys vs organ grinder's monkey
This refers to a monkey trained to collect money for a street musician, a different and older tradition.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'circus monkeys' in the figurative sense?
Choose one answer.
Option C is figurative: it describes people who obey without thinking. The other options all describe real trained monkeys in a show.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “circus monkeys”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.