monkey love
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Puzzle #284 · March 12, 2026
Monkey love refers to an intense, clinging, physically demonstrative kind of affection—the way monkeys groom each other, hold on tight, and stay in constant physical contact. When someone shows monkey love, they're all over the person they adore.
The term captures something real about primate behavior. Studies of monkey social bonding, particularly Harry Harlow's famous (and controversial) 1950s experiments with rhesus monkeys and surrogate mothers, revealed that physical contact and comfort are as essential as food for healthy development. The research transformed our understanding of attachment and influenced how orphanages and hospitals care for infants.
The Urban Dictionary says: Monkey love is the love of craziness. You should use it when intoxicated with friends, hugging each other, drinking ale and screaming “Yeah Monkey Love, yeah baby Yeah gotta love thy monkey”.
The term captures something real about primate behavior. Studies of monkey social bonding, particularly Harry Harlow's famous (and controversial) 1950s experiments with rhesus monkeys and surrogate mothers, revealed that physical contact and comfort are as essential as food for healthy development. The research transformed our understanding of attachment and influenced how orphanages and hospitals care for infants.
The Urban Dictionary says: Monkey love is the love of craziness. You should use it when intoxicated with friends, hugging each other, drinking ale and screaming “Yeah Monkey Love, yeah baby Yeah gotta love thy monkey”.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression monkey love has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #284 on March 12, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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