monkey on one's back

monkey on one's back

1. (figuratively) An addiction, especially to narcotic drugs.
   • 1972 July 24, “The Blue-Collar Blues”, in Time:

     Prine's balladeering also includes social comment, as in Sam Stone, a song about a veteran returning from "the conflict overseas with a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back."

   • 1949, Nelson Algren, The Man With The Golden Arm:

     "You got my monkey, Dealer? You take my nice old monkey away from me? Is that monkey ridin' your back these days, Dealer?"

2. (figuratively) A state of persistent distress or worry or the cause of such a state.
   • 1922, D. H. Lawrence, “Wintry Peacock,”, in England, My England:

     "'E's got th' monkey on 'is back ower this letter job," said the father secretly to me.

   • 2017, Dean Koontz, The Silent Corner, page 38:

     "I moved, went through a lot of changes," she said, which was as much explanation as she would give him. "But I've still got this monkey on my back, you know, still looking for an explanation, and I hoped you might spare me a few minutes."

• Chinaman on one's back

• monkey off one's back

• albatross around one's neck
• shake that monkey

• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.