General
well, i'll be a monkey's uncle
What does well, i'll be a monkey's uncle mean?
Used to convey great surprise or disbelief.
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle—it actually worked!"
Origin
American idiom, early 1900s, arising in jest around evolution debates; a set phrase of amazement.
Frequently asked questions
What does "well, I'll be a monkey's uncle" mean?
It's an exclamation of great surprise or disbelief, similar to "I can't believe it."
When do people say it?
You say it on hearing something astonishing or unexpected.
Where does the phrase come from?
It's an early-1900s American idiom that arose in jest around debates over evolution.
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