monkey on one's back
Habit plaguing someone
A monkey on one's back is a persistent burden or problem that's difficult to shake.
The phrase often refers specifically to drug addiction: He's been trying to get the monkey off his back for years.
More broadly, it describes any nagging difficulty or psychological weight someone carries: Student debt has been a monkey on her back since graduation.
Powerful urge to have
- dependenceState of needing another
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- habitSettled regular tendency
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
substance · opioid · nicotine · alcoholism · rehabilitation · detox · relapse · tolerance
craving
Powerful urge to have
- dependenceState of needing another
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- habitSettled regular tendency
compulsion · substance · opioid · nicotine · alcoholism · rehabilitation · detox · relapse · tolerance · intervention
weight
Measure of heaviness
hardship · strain · encumbrance · albatross · trouble · difficulty · liability · onus · yoke · millstone
monkey on one's backfreedom
Absence of constraint
peace of mind · liberation · relief · unburdened · clear conscience
monkey on one's backsobriety
Unimpaired mental state
clean · sober · recovery · kicked the habit · kicking the habit
monkey on one's backinner peace
Mental and emotional tranquility
contentment · tranquility · ease · bliss · peace
monkey, back, monkeys, monkeyed, monkeying, backed, backing, backer