
IdiomAnimals
English
not my circus, not my monkeys
Meaning: It's not my problem, so I'm staying out of it.
Example: “The office is arguing about the thermostat again. Not my circus, not my monkeys.”
Origin: Borrowed from the Polish saying "nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy." It spread in English through the internet from around the 2010s.
Equivalents in other languages
Polish: Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy Literally: Not my circus, not my monkeys
More English idioms
- give someone what for To scold or punish someone severely.
- like talking to a brick wall Speaking to someone who does not listen or respond.
- have a thing for someone To be attracted to someone.
- a vicious circle A situation where one problem causes another, which makes the first worse.
- wish the ground would swallow one up To feel so embarrassed that one wants to disappear.
- have one's head screwed on To be sensible and practical.
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