a monkey on (your) back

a serious problem that you cannot forget.

When you know you have to do everything perfectly, it puts a giant monkey on your back.

Usage notes: also used in the form get the monkey off your back - to end a problem:

By winning the championship, this team has finally got the monkey off its back.

Etymology: based on an earlier meaning of a monkey on your back (= a habit of using an illegal drug)

• have finger on the button
• have finger on the pulse
• have fingers in the till
• have first call on
• have first call on something
• have first crack at
• have first crack at something
• have first refusal
• have friends in high places
• have fun and games
• have going for
• have going for it
• have going for you
• have got it bad
• have got it made
• have got number
• have got someone's number
• have got the hump
• have got to be kidding
• have got to hand it to
• have got to hand it to someone
• have green fingers
• have guts for garters
• have had a bellyful of
• have had a bellyful of something