monkey on your back

To have some very burdensome nuisance you have to put up with--in a sense wider than just a drug or other addiction.

"That huge credit card payment is a real monkey on his back." "Trying to sell that white elephant must be a monkey on your back."

by Guthlac A February 10, 2010

Monkey on your back

To have an addicction, especially a drug addiction.

Man, he's got a monkey on him back! He's so wasted!

by bluestorm100 March 12, 2005

monkey on your back

To have a deep, uncontrollable desire to something such as Gamble, Smoke, or Drink.

Man he has that Drinking monkey on his back, it is 9:30 in the morrning and he's already drunk.

by Stan, Ricky, Cody, and Alex April 3, 2003

Monkey on your back

Addiction, mostly heroin/morphine addiction.

Hey dad, you been smacking da H again, quit it bitch, you have a monkey on your back

But the morphine eased the pain,
And the grass grew round his brain,
And gave him all the confidence he lacked,
With a Purple Heart and a monkey on his back.

There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes,

-John Prine - 'Sam Stone' a song about a vietnam vet returning to the US with a monkey on his back.

by GG Allin11 September 1, 2013

monkey on my back

dealing with a drug problem

"i'm trying to kick this drug habit but there's a monkey on my back"

by bigronnis December 12, 2016

Monkey on your back

Severe relentless back pain one gets during opiate withdrawal.

hardest part of detox will be the monkey on your back

by XsubZ April 17, 2010

have a monkey on one's back

to have an addiction to drugs or alcohol

Man, he really has a monkey on his back. He needs help.

by Light Joker March 31, 2005