monkey on one's back
The phrase "monkey on one's back" is a vivid metaphor used to describe persistent problems or burdens, often related to addiction or ongoing distress.
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Definition
C1General
(figurative, informal)A persistent problem or burden that is difficult to get rid of.
Example
- This debt has been a monkey on my back for years.
C1Addiction
(figurative, informal)An addiction or dependency, especially to substances like drugs or alcohol.
Example
- He has been struggling to get the monkey off his back since he started using drugs.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "monkey on one's back":
on someone's backon one's backchip on one's shouldermonkey up