a monkey on one's back

What's the exact meaning of to have a monkey on one's back and in which context it is suitable to use?

1) to be a pain in the neck
2) to be a burden to someone/to have a burden

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gillnetter

It's usually used to refer to someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.

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This is the only context in which I've heard this term used. The Free Dictionary gives other contexts. Look here. monkey - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

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Originally Posted by riquecohen

This is the only context in which I've heard this term used. The Free Dictionary gives other contexts. Look here. monkey - Idioms - by the Free Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

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It's really weird because yestarday I was talking to an American friend of mine and he said to me, kidding: Oh Gosh, you're a monkey on my back....
I thought he meant something like: you're a pain in the neck...or something similar...:-o:-o

P.S. I'm not addicted to any sort of drugs and I do not have any problems with alcohol either...;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dilodi83

It's really weird because yestarday I was talking to an American friend of mine and he said to me, kidding: Oh Gosh, you're a monkey on my back....
I thought he meant something like: you're a pain in the neck...or something similar...:-o:-o

P.S. I'm not addicted to any sort of drugs and I do not have any problems with alcohol either...;-)

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Well, are you "a serious problem that won't go away?":-) As he said it tongue in cheek, I think your interpretation is probably correct.