have a monkey on one's back

== English == === Noun === monkey on one's back (figuratively) An addiction, especially to narcotic drugs. (figuratively) A state of persistent distress or worry or the cause of such a state. ==== Synonyms ==== Chinaman on one's back ==== Antonyms ==== monkey off one's back ==== See also ==== albatross around one's neck === References === Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.