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monkey's allowance

noun

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.

Definitions

  1. More abuse than profit.

    • "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.[…]"

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA