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I'll be a monkey's uncle

created by krok7

(idea) by krok7 (4.5 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Thu Dec 21 2000 at 21:16:51

An idiomatic expression that implies surprise, shock and/or disbelief.

"I'll be a monkey's uncle" is often preceded by "Well", as in "Aunt Edna is really a man!?! Well I'll be a monkey's uncle", and thus is abbreviated as WIBAMU in Netspeak.

I have tried to track down the origin of the phrase, but I have had no luck. It may have something to do with evolution...


(idea) by zgirll (10.8 mon) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri May 18 2001 at 15:55:36

I'll be a monkey's uncle was originally used as a sarcastic remark, used to express disbelief. When Darwin's Descent of Man,was published in 1874 the idea that man could be descended from monkeys was ridiculed and considered outrageous. The phrase was used to show scorn for Charles Darwin's theories.


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Insulting softlinks Uncle Joe's Travelling Psycho Smorgasbord The Descent of Man Infinite monkeys theorem
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Blue law Carl Sagan Charles Darwin supercooling
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