monkey see, monkey do

monkey see, monkey do

1. Children learn by imitating and copying what they see adults or other children do. A: "Aww, look at Tommy pretending to wash dishes like you!" B: "Monkey see, monkey do!"
2. People will often imitate or follow along with others without thinking about their actions, especially when doing stupid things. Unfortunately, it's often a case of monkey see, monkey do with teenagers who get caught up in dangerous behaviors like drinking, having sex, and taking drugs.
See also: monkey
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Monkey see, monkey do.

Prov. Children imitate what they see other people doing. I don't let my children watch TV programs that show kids being disrespectful to their elders. I know what would happen if I did: monkey see, monkey do.
See also: monkey
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

monkey see, monkey do

mainly AMERICAN, INFORMAL
People say monkey see, monkey do to criticize someone for copying someone else without thinking about what they are doing. A danger with workplace training is a `monkey see, monkey do' approach which does not value skills and knowledge.
See also: monkey
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

monkey see, monkey do

used to suggest that someone has slavishly imitated another, especially in doing something foolish. informal, chiefly North American
2004 Trinidad Guardian Advanced technology has limited the independence of all nations and states. The world is now a global village, and monkey see monkey do as they all scramble for a dollar.
See also: monkey
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

monkey see, monkey do

A comment to or about someone who is imitating another’s actions. It originated in the United States in the 1920s, probably as part of a children’s game, and is most often heard as a criticism or admonition.
See also: monkey
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • helicopter parent
  • babe(s) in the woods
  • children should be seen and not heard
  • refrigerator mother
  • babysit
  • babysit (someone or something)
  • birds and the bees, the
  • bargain on
  • bargain on (something)
  • babysit with (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
MONKEY see, monkey do. You'd think, wouldn't you, that if monkeys will imitate whatever they see, the phrase would be 'copymonkey' instead of 'copycat'?
John Avison column
The saying "monkey see, monkey do" appears to be true, after all.--E.
Copycat monkeys