Falla-fashion monkey

noun FAL-la-FA-shan MON-key ˈfala ˈfaʃan ˈmʌŋki

Also spelled follow-fashion monkey, fala fashan monkey

A copycat — someone who blindly imitates whatever others do or wear without thinking for themselves. It comes straight from the proverb 'falla-fashion monkey never drink good soup', which warns that mindless imitation brings you to grief, since the copying monkey, aping others without sense, ends up worse off. A pointed criticism in a culture that prizes individuality, the phrase mocks the trend-chaser and the mimic, the one with no mind of their own who simply follows whatever is popular into folly.

  • She buy it just because har friend buy it; real falla-fashion monkey.

    She bought it just because her friend did; a real copycat.

  • Nuh be a falla-fashion monkey — tink fi yuhself.

    Don't be a copycat — think for yourself.

  • Falla-fashion monkey never drink good soup.

    The one who blindly imitates never gets the good outcome (only trouble).

'Falla-fashion' means to follow the fashion, i.e. to imitate; the monkey — famed for copying — stands for the mindless imitator. From the fuller proverb 'falla-fashion monkey never drink good soup'.

A mildly mocking term for someone who imitates others without independent thought.