Phrase guide

barrel of monkeys

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌbæɹ(ə)l‿əv ˈmʌŋkiz/
  • General-American: /ˌbæɹəl‿əv ˈmʌŋkiz/
  • General-American: /bɛ-/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Someone or something very amusing or funny, fun, mischievous, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • He thinks he’s a barrel of monkeys, but he’s not particularly entertaining.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hoot, riot

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Possibly influenced by barrel of fun or barrel of laughs.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: naurattaja — someone or something very amusing or funny, fun, mischievous, etc.