parrot fashion

parrot-fashion

By rote, without knowing or understanding the actual substance of it. You will also be tested on how to apply these rules to real-world scenarios, so don't just learn to recite them parrot-fashion.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

parrot fashion

BRITISH
If a child learns something parrot fashion, they learn it by repeating it many times, but they do not really understand what it means. Under the old system pupils often had to repeat lessons parrot fashion. There are no books, pens or chairs here, just a blackboard and a dirt floor where 150 dusty children sit in rows, learning their words parrot fashion. Note: Some parrots are able to imitate human speech, and repeat words and phrases, although they do not really understand what they are saying.
See also: fashion, parrot
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

(learn, repeat, etc. something) ˈparrot-fashion

(British English, disapproving) (learn, repeat, etc. something) without understanding the meaning: When we were at school we used to learn history parrot-fashion; all I can remember now is the dates.
This idiom refer to the fact that parrots can learn phrases and repeat them after you without understanding what they mean.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • parrot-fashion
  • get one up on (someone or something)
  • by rote
  • learn by
  • form and substance
  • on location
  • know (something) by rote
  • lace
  • lace with
  • lacing
References in periodicals archive
PARROT FASHION By Francesca Simpson, who designed cover of guide CAREFUL WORK Francesca says each painting takes so long that she has to plan her subjects carefully DISPLAY Above, work by Anthony Holt, and below, by Eric Ford, just two of the artists who feature at the Alnmouth Arts Festival this weekend
Arts festival at seaside is for all the family; It's a day out on the coast with loads of paintings, prints, jewellery, glass and textiles and kids activities all in one place. What could be better, asks Tamzin Lewis
CATCH it while you can, this rhinestone fish ring is pounds 16.50 from www.topshop.com WEAR the trend "parrot fashion", this tropical parrot ring is pounds 16.50 at Miss Selfridge.
Family LIFE SHOPPING; The ring of confidence
PARROT FASHION: A bird called Strawberry is reported to have done better than some humans in six weeks of trading
Parrot shows X factor with wad of cyber cash
But the reality is decisions are left to the civil servants, who trot out parrot fashion "it has never been policy" and "we are under no obligation" to every medal grievance levelled at them.
yourview
He said: "Some people are learning the answers parrot fashion. They can just about talk in English, but cannot even write a receipt.
Black cab drivers in 'chancers' fight; CAMPAIGN: Call to make 'knowledge test' harder after rise in cancellations
"It will be some time before these early warnings are picked up in the official statistics - so it is not a lot of good for politicians to repeat parrot fashion that official statistics show that the garden is rosy.
Union fears cuts in manufacturing; Plea to combat economic slowdown
The brigadier told reporters it was not enough for troops to be able to repeat Army values "parrot fashion" and said the service needed to "embed in people a better understanding between right and wrong".
Insufficient troop training blamed for abuse in Iraq
PARROT FASHION After plundering the photoshoot, Brit steps out yesterday looking every inch a pirate; Picture: CELEBRITYBABYLON.COM/WENN
3AM: BRIT'S GOWN & OUT; Star's pounds 10k bill after dress mess
She said: "We learned and remembered things parrot fashion. If you forgot, you would be punished.
School-leaver at 14 ... class treasure at 80!
IT didn't take long for these Pretty Pollies to pick up their new skills - not when they were learning it parrot fashion.
So who's a clever boy (& girl) then
Dave has written four books: Sporting Questions, Parrot Fashion (Robsons Books); Soccer Brain (Milo Books); Liverpool FC - The Ultimate Book of Stats and Facts, with Ged Rea (Bluecoat Press); Everton FC - The Ultimate Book of Stats and Facts, with Gavin Buckland (Bluecoat).
TV sport's question master is on the ball; 'Memory man' talks to Rachael Tinniswood
But doing that you can become a bit wooden, saying things parrot fashion."
Funny man finds his perfect job at last; After years of making people laugh, Micky Flanagan now gets paid to do it, he tells Philip Key
And if they were challenged by callers, they simply repeated the message "parrot fashion".
HEALTH HOTLINE IS SICK FARCE; Answer machine shock
All the rest of us learn by parrot fashion. I learn the tunes and harmonies and then we learn them a line at a time."
Fishing singers do some-fin different; Choir is on tune for four decades
But when he went to say how good and generous the Bute family was to theWelsh coal miners, parrot fashion and in poetical terms, well that was a bit too much for me.
I just laughed my socks off; VIEWPOINTS