winged monkeys

English

Etymology

Metaphorical reference to the literal winged monkeys that appear as the minions of the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1900 children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: winged + monkeys.

Noun

winged monkeys pl (plural only)

1. (plural only, chiefly ironic or humorous) Ominous pawns of evil forces.

Synonyms

• flying monkeys (informal)

See also

• winged monkeys on Wikipedia.Wikipedia