Feb 4, 2003 22:50
21 yrs ago
English term
the monkey's paying
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
A group of policemen and detectives in a pub:
D.I Selway bends over the snooker table. She hits another perfect shot.
Gladwyn: Where's the boss?
Speed indicates Selway's bottom bent over the table.
Gladwyn: I mean the big boss.
Speed: Tied up apparently. So the monkey's paying.
Selway: I heard that.
D.I Selway bends over the snooker table. She hits another perfect shot.
Gladwyn: Where's the boss?
Speed indicates Selway's bottom bent over the table.
Gladwyn: I mean the big boss.
Speed: Tied up apparently. So the monkey's paying.
Selway: I heard that.
Responses
| 3 +2 | probably |
Lucy Phillips
|
| 5 +1 | Entonces, el mono va a pagar [nuestro trago] |
Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
|
| 5 | Just for your interest |
Chris Rowson (X)
|
Responses
+2
33 mins
Lucy Phillips
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Elegant precision - published writer
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English, Portuguese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
46
Selected
probably
this is a reference to the expression 'the organ grinder's monkey'
the 'big boss' is the organ grinder
Selwyn is the monkey.
The organ grinder is an old-fashioned street musician who went round with a monkey!
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Note added at 2003-02-04 23:32:21 (GMT)
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It\'s a typical UK expression (I take it from reference to pub it\'s a UK text) meaning that the person in question is not the one with the power.
Organs: Grinders and Monkeys
... country. He says that while the music was supposed to be the real draw,
the organ grinder\'s monkey was a necessary tool of the trade. ...
www.pulseplanet.com/archive/Aug02/2729.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages
Peacock: (fixing her clothes) \"If I had no experience with judo, Professor, you would now be facing a murder charge.\" (extends hand. Plum hands her the wrench). \"And why are you trying to kill Green, anyway? He\'s the monkey not the organ grinder.\" (helping Plum to his feet) \"It\'s Boddy that turns the handle.\"
http://www.expage.com/page/cluequotes3
the 'big boss' is the organ grinder
Selwyn is the monkey.
The organ grinder is an old-fashioned street musician who went round with a monkey!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-02-04 23:32:21 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It\'s a typical UK expression (I take it from reference to pub it\'s a UK text) meaning that the person in question is not the one with the power.
Organs: Grinders and Monkeys
... country. He says that while the music was supposed to be the real draw,
the organ grinder\'s monkey was a necessary tool of the trade. ...
www.pulseplanet.com/archive/Aug02/2729.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages
Peacock: (fixing her clothes) \"If I had no experience with judo, Professor, you would now be facing a murder charge.\" (extends hand. Plum hands her the wrench). \"And why are you trying to kill Green, anyway? He\'s the monkey not the organ grinder.\" (helping Plum to his feet) \"It\'s Boddy that turns the handle.\"
http://www.expage.com/page/cluequotes3
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Street musician! I haven't thought of that. This makes sense: She does whatever he tells her to do (= whatever music he's playing). ;) Thank you very much, Lucy!
And thank you Jane. I even understood your explanation in Spanish. Maybe my Spanish is not as rusty as I thought... :) "
+1
13 mins
Entonces, el mono va a pagar [nuestro trago]
they are calling Selway a monkey...and she must pay for their drinks in the pub
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Note added at 2003-02-04 23:05:02 (GMT)
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Selway is a woman...for some reason they call her monkey...
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Note added at 2003-02-04 23:07:39 (GMT)
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Acabo de entender ahora.
La llaman de mono, por que los monos suelen poner la parte detras en el aire cuando buscan el sexo. Supongo que es esta la conotación....Es bastante vulgar...No sé si debes decir la mona, quizás seria mas claro así
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Note added at 2003-02-04 23:11:15 (GMT)
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SOORRRY for writing in Spanish.
They are calling the woman Selway a monkey because she has her butt in the air like monkeys when they want sex and they mean she is paying for the drinks at the PUB
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Note added at 2003-02-04 23:05:02 (GMT)
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Selway is a woman...for some reason they call her monkey...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-02-04 23:07:39 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Acabo de entender ahora.
La llaman de mono, por que los monos suelen poner la parte detras en el aire cuando buscan el sexo. Supongo que es esta la conotación....Es bastante vulgar...No sé si debes decir la mona, quizás seria mas claro así
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-02-04 23:11:15 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
SOORRRY for writing in Spanish.
They are calling the woman Selway a monkey because she has her butt in the air like monkeys when they want sex and they mean she is paying for the drinks at the PUB
3 hrs
Just for your interest
Lucy´s quite right, but there´s one more level to this. "The monkey´s paying" is the punchline of an old joke. Unfortunately I can´t remember it :-(((
Maybe an organ grinder in a pub (where else?) And he can´t or won´t pay? I really don´t remember. But anyway, the punch line is remembered, as you can see, and this is why, as Lucy says, it´s a typical UK expression.
Sorry about not remembering the joke.
Maybe an organ grinder in a pub (where else?) And he can´t or won´t pay? I really don´t remember. But anyway, the punch line is remembered, as you can see, and this is why, as Lucy says, it´s a typical UK expression.
Sorry about not remembering the joke.
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