Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) to misbehave; to play tricks.

1906		C. M’Govern Sarjint Larry an’ Frinds 23: Oi really means business and [...] Oi didn’t want no more monkey-shining from de loikes of him.
1971		B. Short Black and White Baby 141: Then Olsen and Johnson came through town to play a big vaudeville date—complete monkeyshining, wild and crazy buffoons.
2000		Deep Dickollective ‘Grammatology’ 🎵,BourgieBohoPostPomoAfroHomo [album] monkeyshining like a junkie tying off / near the fear of your (cough cough) first cough / the hard will eventually go soft.