Brits, and students of UKian culture - having recently watched varied documentaries concerning British life in the 1970s/1980s - “Doctor in the House”, “Open all hours”, “Are you Being Served”, Carry On movies and so on :p, one common phrase in all of them is “Cheeky Monkey”, usually used by an attractive lady in reaction to a ‘move’ by (to keep this thread family safe) a rather over-eager gentleman admirer.
Having ‘Monkey’ in it of course makes this phrase doubly comical, so was this phrase actually used on the street, or was it really only a “media-construct” (from the 30s or 40s or whenvever)? And if used in real-life then, has it now been consigned to the dustbin of history, or does anyone still use it and not get mocked*
*The phrase was already sort of mocked in a 1970 “Doctor In The House” episode, the one where rival schools rugby teams steal each others’ Team Mascots - St. Swithin’s mascot is a stuffed Gorilla, and Student Paul Collier walks up to it and slaps it, stating (of course) “Cheeky Monkey”
My boyfriend (Northern Irish) and his folks use it all the time. Usually in reference to the kids (his sister has three of them) when they’re being, er, cheeky.
Hmm, two responses mentioning kids as being Cheeky Monkeys - not quite the response I expected - The examples I was thinking of from TV/movies were like Nurse Gladys Emmanuel’s response after Arkwright making yet another suggestive comment on her ample bust, or Joan Sim’s character Chloe’s response to Sid James ‘Sid’ after he ‘playfully’ slaps her behind in ‘Carry On At Your Convenience’ - rebukes to inappropiate sexual behavior. I rather hope 3 year old Australian boys aren’t THAT advanced yet.
Then again, maybe it’s meaning has changed over 3 decades to connotate not really lewd behavior at all, but rather…just being loud, rambunctious and perhaps a PITA. That’s why I’m asking.
He’s a three year old American actually. But he sounds a bit like his Mum. Very cute.
I can’t say about British TV usage, not having any real exposure to it there. But in my experience, it’s for kids, nothing lewd intended. I can see how it could be, though!
I can’t comment on British usage, but in Australia it is most definitely currently used in reference to juvenile type hi-jinks. Personally I’ve only ever seen it used in that fashion in Australia, never in a sexually inappropriate behaviour kind of way.
Michael myers used to use it in the US on Saturday Night Live, in a skit where he was a kid in a bathtub, chiding watchers who he claimed wanted to get a look at his bare butt. I’d never heard it before that point, and simply assumed it was common British slang (he did the skit in a British accent. Myers is Canadian, but his parents are British-born
The PiperCub had a cap with a monkey design on it and the phrase “Cheeky Monkey” in stitches. Very cute, but he’s outgrown it already. I don’t think it was meant with any lewd intention … just that little kids can be cheeky. (Posting from Canada, by the way.)
The meaning hasn’t changed, it’s simply a retort to someone being, well, cheeky. That might be kids mucking around or a harmless old gent winking at an attractive woman. It has never had specifically sexual overtones.
I wouldn’t say it’s all that common. Certainly I’ve heard it more in camp comedy sketches than everyday conversation.
It’s not a common enough phrase for a tourist to say it, for example.
What I mean is, if an american were to say “cheeky monkey”, I think they’d initially get a blank stare or look of surprise, as people just don’t expect foreigners to know less frequent slang terms (plus there’s often a very specific delivery required).
I was using the phrase just today on my 18 month old. I use it a lot, as he is, well, a cheeky monkey.
It’s a pretty well used phrase around these here parts (Scotland/UK). Mostly by parents when referring to their children. Less used to describe adults and their behaviour, but I could see it happening.
I don’t think the meaning has changed. It has always been something said to children. In the situations you’re talking about, the adult is being spoken to using a phrase that’s more customarily used for a child. Like “Aren’t you a naughty little boy?” Its connotations change based on whom you’re saying to, but literally speaking it’s a mild rebuke for a child.
Really? I would have thought most people wouldn’t even know it was specifically British slang not used in the US, and everyone would know what it meant.
I see some people disagree with me about how common the phrase is. That’s fair enough – there’s a significant chunk of the UK I haven’t been to, and how common it is might vary by region.
But it’s definitely something I’d associate as british. If a guy with an american accent were to say cheeky monkey, it would seem…odd…somehow. I wouldn’t be sure he meant to say that or knew what the phrase meant. It a shame because it’s nice to know slang, but this is often the initial response.
Another vote for it being a common phrase (in Britain and Australia). When I was a kid, my aunt would call me one all the time.
I also wouldn’t think anything of someone from the USA saying it. Didn’t know it wasn’t common there!