Meaning of monkey on one's back | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An addiction, especially to narcotic drugs.
   figuratively
2. A state of persistent distress or worry or the cause of such a state.
   figuratively

Examples

“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."”

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

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

“"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."”

CEFR level