monkey's uncle

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformalold-fashioned

   Used to express great surprise or disbelief, especially when something unexpected happens.

   Grammar: Usually said as a complete sentence: 'I'll be a monkey's uncle!' It is not used with other subjects or in questions.

   Patterns

   • I'll be a monkey's uncle
   • well, I'll be a monkey's uncle

   I'll be a monkey's uncle! I never thought I'd see you here.

   Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle — she actually won the race!

   He said he'd finish the project early, and I'll be a monkey's uncle if he didn't do it.

Common combinations

I'll be a monkey's uncle

I'll be a monkey's uncle! That's the first time I've seen snow in April.

well, I'll be a monkey's uncle

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle — you've changed your hair!

if I'm not a monkey's uncle

If I'm not a monkey's uncle, that's the same car we saw yesterday.

I'll be a monkey's uncle if

I'll be a monkey's uncle if that isn't the mayor walking down the street.

Synonyms and how they differ

I'll be damned

Stronger and often considered vulgar; it expresses similar surprise but is not polite in formal situations.

well, I never

Also shows surprise, but is more old-fashioned and British, and can sound slightly disapproving.

wow

A simple, neutral exclamation of surprise that is much more common in everyday speech.

Commonly confused: monkey's uncle or monkey wrench? monkey's uncle or monkey business?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “monkey's uncle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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