monkey see, monkey do

English

Etymology

Monkeys are known for imitating others.

Phrase

monkey see, monkey do

1. A conventional explanation for mimicry, especially of a foolish action done with no consideration of the consequences.
   • 2003, Eminem (lyrics and music), “Monkey See, Monkey Do”, in Straight from the Lab:

     Monkey see, monkey do / Don't ever make the first move, just let 'em come to you

   • 2020 February 20, Chan Chun Sing, as quoted, “Full transcript of 25-minute leaked audio recording of Chan Chun Sing dialogue with SCCCI”, in Mothership.sg‎^[1]:

     Then why Hong Kong people stock toilet paper? Because monkey see monkey do. Hong Kong people stock toilet paper because people scared toilet paper come from China, tomorrow China no toilet paper, we all cannot go pang sai.

Translations

Translations

• Arabic: القرد يرى، القرد يفعل
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 人云亦云 (zh) (rényúnyìyún)

• Finnish: apina matkii näkemäänsä
• Japanese: 猿真似 (ja) (sarumane)
• Polish: małpa widzi małpa robi
• Portuguese: macaco vê, macaco faz (pt)
• Spanish: ¿dónde va Vicente? donde va la gente

Further reading

• monkey see, monkey do on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Eric Partridge (2005) “monkey see, monkey do”, in Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, editors, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, volume 2 (J–Z), London, New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 1315.